Movement to Nominate Children of Gaza for Nobel Peace Prize Gains Momentum

• A campaign to nominate the children of Gaza for the Nobel Peace Prize is gaining widespread support, spearheaded by the Italian newspaper Avvenire.
• The initiative aims to highlight the plight of minors in conflict zones and reaffirm the global necessity of peace.
• Hundreds of Italian intellectuals and public figures, including Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein, have endorsed the proposal.

Context of the Conflict

• Over the last 300 days, at least one child or adolescent has died every day in Gaza.
• Since October 7, 2023, approximately 21,000 children have been killed, with tens of thousands more injured, orphaned, or displaced due to ongoing military actions and lack of aid.
• The proposal was originally initiated by Professor Eugenio Mazzarella of the University of Naples Federico II and previously supported by the L’isola che non c’è association.

Significance and Arguments

• Father Ibrahim Faltas, director of the Custody of the Holy Land schools, described the nomination as an act of "truth and justice" that enshrines the right to remembrance for victims and a future for survivors.
• Supporters acknowledge the formal requirement that Nobel Prizes be awarded to individuals or organizations, but argue this is surmountable, citing the 2025 award to Cristina Machado for her civic commitment in Venezuela.
• The campaign emphasizes that the suffering of children in Gaza represents the universal innocence of children in any historical conflict—including those lost in Israel, Sudan, Iran, Ukraine, and Russia—who deserve protection rather than being targets of adult hatred.