Consider This from NPR

Episode: Understanding the War in Gaza Through the Words of a Child

Date: September 13, 2025
Host: Scott Detrow
Guest: Ari Daniel, NPR reporter
Featured Story: Dr. Hassan Abusitta, Kenzie Madhoon (age 6), Adam Madhoon (father)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the impact of the Gaza war by focusing on the personal story of a six-year-old Gazan girl, Kenzie Madhoon. NPR host Scott Detrow interviews reporter Ari Daniel about the power of telling war stories through a child's perspective, specifically Daniel’s recent piece chronicling Kenzie's journey after being injured by an airstrike. The conversation unpacks the challenges of reporting on children, building trust, and narrative decisions that draw listeners in while honoring the storytelling agency of those affected.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Humanizing War Reporting

• Emotional Toll: Both for those reporting and listening, war news is draining and deeply upsetting.
  • “Reporting on a war can be a grueling job... But the most powerful stories are not just of destruction and rising death tolls, but tell of humanity, of optimism and hope.” — Scott Detrow (00:00)
• Power of Personal Stories: Focusing on individual characters, especially children, helps audiences connect on a human level beyond statistics or geopolitics.
  • “Sometimes the stories that most powerfully illustrate the tragedy of war are told through a child’s voice.” — Scott Detrow (02:22)

2. Meet Kenzie Madhoon and Dr. Abu Sitta

• Kenzie’s Story: A vibrant six-year-old, Kenzie, with a missing right arm after an airstrike, is seen at a Beirut medical clinic seeking reconstructive help.
  • “Kenzie has eyes the color of dark chocolate... Her right arm, though, is missing.” — Ari Daniel (00:37)
• Medical Challenges: Dr. Abusitta works to give children like Kenzie a better future, considering both immediate injuries and long-term needs as they grow.
  • “You are trying to reconstruct a moving object, which is the growing body that always outgrows the injured part.” — Dr. Hassan Abusitta (01:57)

3. Reporting Approach: Building Trust

• Finding the Right Story: Ari looks for authentic, emotionally resonant relationships between doctor and patient. With Kenzie, the bond was immediately clear.
  • “She just had a kind of energy and personality... I realized that Kenzie was going to be the perfect fit for this story.” — Ari Daniel (04:17)
• Establishing Trust with Vulnerable Subjects: Extra care is required when reporting on children; building rapport can’t be rushed.
  • “A huge part of what I think about in terms of my reporting is establishing trust... especially when it comes to a child in these circumstances.” — Ari Daniel (06:07)
  • Ari credits his interpreter Angie Murad for creating a comfortable, playful environment for Kenzie, recounting a simple pen-balancing trick that quickly broke the ice and built trust. (06:45)

4. Depicting Trauma through a Child’s Lens

• Hearing Kenzie’s Account: Rather than a clinical tale of injury, listeners hear Kenzie’s memory—confused at first for fireworks, her “flying” like a superhero, and her subsequent rescue.
  • “It was fireworks, but it wasn’t.” — Kenzie (paraphrased by Scott Detrow) (08:38)
  • “The missile took me up... Kenzie felt like she was flying like a superhero.” — Ari Daniel (08:40)
  • “A fractured pelvis and skull and a missing arm.” — Ari Daniel (09:19)
• Narrative Choices: Ari intentionally withholds the details of Kenzie’s injury until late in the story to let listeners first relate to her as a person, not just a victim.
  • “Kenzie isn’t just a person with a missing arm. She is a girl with interests and personality.” — Ari Daniel (12:08)
  • “By delaying it, I’m hoping that the listener wonders what happened... they’re encouraged to listen further.” — Ari Daniel (12:03)

5. Ethical and Editorial Considerations

• Transparency & Consent: Being clear about journalistic intentions, especially with non-public figures, is an ethical imperative.
  • “I think especially I have this responsibility when I’m reporting on somebody and telling the story of somebody who’s not...used to being reported on...to be transparent with them and try to help them trust you.” — Scott Detrow (05:28)
• Respecting the Child’s Experience: Close attention is paid to both verbal and nonverbal cues to ensure the child is comfortable and understood.
  • “I want to make sure that I’m sensitive to what they’re saying, both verbally and non-verbally.” — Ari Daniel (06:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Reporting on a war can be a grueling job... That is true for both reporters as well as audiences.”
  — Scott Detrow (00:00)

• “You are trying to reconstruct a moving object, which is the growing body that always outgrows the injured part.”
  — Dr. Hassan Abusitta (01:57)

• “She just had a kind of energy and personality... Kenzie was going to be the perfect fit for this story.”
  — Ari Daniel (04:17)

• “A huge part of what I think about in terms of my reporting is establishing trust...recognizing that whatever they choose to offer, that’s a gift.”
  — Ari Daniel (06:07)

• “It was fireworks, but it wasn’t.”
  — (Narrated/paraphrased: 08:38)

• “The missile took me up... Kenzie felt like she was flying like a superhero.”
  — Ari Daniel (08:40)

• “The power of journalism...is to bring an issue to life through the lens of a single person or a couple of people.”
  — Ari Daniel (12:08)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00] — Scott Detrow introduces the human cost of war reporting and segues to Ari Daniel’s story.
• [00:37] — Ari Daniel introduces Dr. Abusitta and Kenzie Madhoon in Beirut.
• [01:18] — Dr. Abusitta describes the medical complexities of treating Kenzie.
• [02:22] — Scott underscores the unique power of children’s perspectives in illustrating war’s impact.
• [04:17] — Ari discusses finding and selecting the right subjects for impactful storytelling.
• [06:07] — How Ari Daniel builds trust with young, vulnerable sources.
• [08:28] — The pivotal narrative moment: Kenzie recounts the attack as experienced in her own words.
• [10:11] — Ari Daniel reflects on the importance of the “superhero” metaphor and word choices.
• [12:03] — Ari explains narrative structure decisions, discussing why Kenzie’s trauma is revealed late in the story.

Episode Tone and Language

The conversation is measured, empathetic, and respectful throughout, balancing the gravity of war with emphasis on hope, resilience, and the ethical responsibilities of reporting sensitive stories—especially those involving children.

This rich, evocative episode guides listeners through the harrowing yet hopeful journey of a wounded child to help understand Gaza’s war from a deeply personal angle—reminding us of the enduring humanity that persists amid conflict.