Amnesty International issued a report stating that "using children to carry out or assist in armed attacks of any kind is an abomination. We call on the Palestinian leadership to publicly denounce these practices." The report was published on Thursday in response to Wednesday's foiled attack, in which a 14-year-old Palestinian, Husam Abdu Hawara, was discovered carrying an explosive' belt while attempting to pass through Hawara checkpoint, near Nablus. According to the boy's account, he received NIS 100 to blow himself up near the soldiers, with the additional promise of being awarded 72 virgins in heaven.
"Hey, kid! You open to a job as a suicide bomber?"
"Uhhh... I guess. What's it pay?" |
Last week, Israeli soldiers discovered a bag of explosive in the possession of an 11-year old Palestinian child at the same checkpoint. The boy, who regularly carried bags for travelers from one side of the checkpoint to the other, was reported not to have been aware that one of the bags on his cart contained explosive.
| The baggy also contained a plastic Spiderman among the nuts and bolts. I think they were intended to surprise the kid with the boom, with the toy for propaganda use later..." |
"Amnesty International has repeatedly condemned suicide bombings and other attacks against civilians by Palestinian armed groups as crimes against humanity. Using children to carry out or assist in armed attacks of any kind is an abomination. We call on the Palestinian leadership to publicly denounce these practices," the report said. "Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs' brigades, must put an immediate end to the use or involvement of any kind of children in armed activity," it said.
In its report, Amnesty accused Palestinian armed groups of putting pressure on families of those who have been killed while carrying out attacks, including children, not to condemn but to welcome and endorse their relatives' actions. |