Children of the Camp

BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- Children from Bethlehem's Aida and Beit Jibrin refugee camps talk to Mondoweiss about their life in the camps. Filmmakers Sheren Khalel and Abed al Qaisi wanted to know exactly how much the children understood about the military occupation going on around them, and how normal they believed their lives were. With their parents permission, Khalel and al Qaisi asked five children from the streets of the two camps what they thought. All of the answers were spontaneous and unrehearsed, and as it turned out, the kids understood -- and have experienced -- quite a lot. Many of the children talked about tear gas, soldiers, and being scared of going outside. All of the children have seen family members killed, injured and detained by Israeli forces -- as is the life in the occupied West Bank's many refugee camps. Still, the children have high hopes, telling Mondoweiss they want to be doctors, lawyers and engineers when they grow up. Video: Sheren Khalel and Abed al Qaisi Music: Bakr Khalifa Interviews recorded: January 21, 2016