Unheard stories: parents’ perspectives on child removal in East Jerusalem

Background Child removal by court order is one of the most severe child protection interventions, often carrying long-term emotional, social, and legal consequences for both children and their parents. In East Jerusalem, these interventions occur within a complex sociopolitical context. While previous studies have highlighted cultural gaps, researchers have paid less attention to the political dimensions influencing child removal reasons. Objective This study explores how Palestinian parents from East Jerusalem interpret the reasons for their children’s removal and how they perceive their initial encounters with the Israeli welfare and legal systems. Methods In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 primary caregivers (13 mothers, eight fathers, and one aunt) whose young children (ages 0–6) were removed from their homes by court order. An inductive, context-sensitive design inspired by grounded theory principles was adopted to guide the research process. Results Parents’ narratives challenged the formal reasons for removal, offering alternative interpretations rooted in the structural constraints, geopolitical context, and legal status of families in East Jerusalem. Some parents experienced their engagement with the welfare system as disempowering and exclusionary, while others—particularly mothers without legal status—described the intervention as a surprising opportunity to reconnect with their children. Conclusions The findings emphasize the importance of integrating parents’ voices into child protection practices, particularly parents from politically marginalized settings. Culturally and politically sensitive interventions, alongside authentic partnerships with parents, are essential to prevent further marginalization and to promote family healing and, when possible, reunification.