Jerusalem, 14 January 2003
The Exploitation of Children for Terrorist Purposes
(Communicated by Israeli security sources)
The phenomenon of the exploitation of children by terrorist
organizations for the purposes of carrying out terrorist attacks and
suicide bombings has risen to prominence, once again, following the
capture of two children this week (11 January) in the midst of
committing an attack. The children, aged 8 and 14, were
armed with knives and were apprehended in the community of Netzarim,
as they attempted to stab passersby. In recent months, hundreds of
Israeli civilians have been killed and many more wounded as a result
of Palestinian terrorist attacks. The following is a review of the
findings of the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) on the issue of the
exploitation of children for the purposes of executing such
attacks:
1. The guiding principle: Terrorist organizations exploit the
innocent appearance of children who do not arouse suspicion and can
easily blend in among the crowds. Furthermore, the terrorist
organizations view children and youths as the most convenient recruits
for suicide bombing missions, since they are easily influenced. A
considerable number of children and youths have been apprehended by Israeli
security forces before they could carry out terrorist attacks.
2. The indoctrination: The terrorist organizations uproot the
children from their homes and families. Resorting to brainwashing and
religious indoctrination, they incite the children to carry out
terrorist attacks. The children are persuaded that if they do so,
they will be granted paradise in the hereafter.
Salah Shehadeh, one of the Hamas leaders in Gaza, who was killed
recently, stated in an interview on the internet site Islam Online
(May 26, 2002), that children should be trained properly prior to the
execution of terrorist attacks, and that they should be enlisted in a
special branch of the military arm of the organization, so that they
are imbued with the values of the armed jihad, and are taught to
distinguish between good and evil. Remarks of this kind are an
important factor in the persuasion of parents to send their children
to carry out terrorist attacks.
3. The motivation and scope: On June 27, 2002, the official
Palestinian Television broadcast a film entitled "Child Martyrs and
Lovers of their Homeland." Dr. Fatal Abu Hin, a lecturer in
psychology, was interviewed during the film, and spoke about the
growing phenomenon of the involvement of children in violent
incidents. Abu Hin noted that the word "Shahada" (martyrdom) carries a
number of meanings for the Palestinian child, specifically, and for
Islamic society, in general. He maintained that the Palestinian child
understands that through Shahada, he can win honour and respect, and
that this phenomenon drives children to take an active part in
violent events.
Abu Hin presented a survey carried out by the Islamic University in
Gaza, in April 2001, which focused on a group of one thousand
youngsters from Gaza, in the 9-16 age bracket. The survey findings
indicated that of those questioned, 45 per cent had taken an active
role in the violence. In addition, 73 per cent of the youngsters
stated that they wanted to become martyrs. These findings clearly
indicate that children and youth in the West Bank and Gaza have been
radicalized, and that they are easy prey for the terrorist
organizations that exploit them to perpetrate terrorist
atrocities.
During the film, the narrator states that "the hearts of the
Palestinian children are filled not only with anxiety and fear, but
also with a strong will to achieve Shahada (martyrdom)", and that
"martyrdom has become the noblest aim and most admirable deed of this
generation". The narrator adds, "Martyrdom has become the greatest
aspiration for many children who believe that this is the way to win
prestige, and to be immortalized among their people."
4. Educating for martyrdom: In addition to the encouragement of children through the media, the Palestinian educational institutions and
summer camps are also involved in inciting, brainwashing and
indoctrinating Palestinian children and youth. Children are
indoctrinated with extreme Islamic ideas, calling for support and
encouragement of the Jihad against Israel. At the beginning of July,
the Islamic Movement in Gaza launched its summer camps, named The Al
Aqsa Intifada Martyrs Summer Camp. The Al Quds newspaper carried an
article on July 2 by Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Bakhar, the Chairman of the
Islamic Movement, in which he wrote that the leaders of the Movement
have made efforts to hold the summer camps in spite of the conflict,
out of a belief in the values instilled in the Palestinian children
at the camps. In addition, the Hamas summer camps are popular with
children, where they are given uniforms, shoes and exercise books.
The organizers of the camps also show warmth towards the children.
Secular children also participate in the camps, because of the varied
attractions on offer. At the camps, the children are taught about the
history of Islam, and pictures of martyrs are hung in every place. In
this way, the seeds of hatred towards Israel are planted in the
children.
5. Official and parental complicity: The Palestinian Authority
Ministry for Youth and Sport also oversees summer camps that are
designed to recruit children to carry out attacks against Israel. At
the camps, the children are subject to incitement, and are trained to
use weapons for future attacks against Israel.
In many cases, Palestinian children dress up as a "shaheed" (martyr)
with their parents' consent. Indeed, these children are often
encouraged to do so by their parents. More and more cases are coming
to light of children participating in processions, wearing replicas
of explosive belts and inscriptions declaring that they are martyrs.
This brings to mind the photograph of the baby recently discovered in
Hebron. The photograph showed a baby wearing a replica explosive belt
and a headband declaring that the baby was a martyr for "Allah".
There is no doubt that this phenomenon has a destructive influence on
the education of children who are instilled with the culture of the
Jihad. These children are then easily recruited by terrorist
organizations for the purpose of carrying out attacks.
6. Childhood as terrorist camouflage: It is not only the children who
are exploited by the terrorists. Children's accessories and toys are
used by terrorists to disguise their activities. In addition, the
terrorists try to camouflage their activities by operating close to
schools and kindergartens.
Following questioning conducted by the ISA
and in the wake of various findings, it has emerged that the various
terrorist organizations have used children's schoolbags and toys to
conceal explosives. At first glance, these innocent looking items did
not appear suspicious, yet they contained explosives, and were
intended for use against Israeli civilians and other targets. Thus,
during an IDF operation in the town of Kalkilya on April 26, 2002,
three explosives laboratories were found, containing many weapons,
explosive belts, other explosives and charges, hand grenades and
ammunition. Most notably, a child's schoolbag containing explosive
charges ready for use was also found.
7. Hiding behind children: During questioning conducted by the ISA,
senior terrorist operatives revealed that they tend to locate the
explosives laboratories close to schools and kindergartens, in order
to conceal their terrorist activity. In this way, the terrorist
organizations directly endanger the lives of Palestinian children.
Salim Haja, a senior Hamas operative arrested during Operation
Defensive Shield, admitted during questioning that he placed a bomb
laboratory close to a school, and that the operatives in the
laboratory were disguised as pupils carrying schoolbags and books.
The equipment in the laboratories included test tubes, glass
instruments, gas masks and raw materials for the production of
explosives. The laboratories were aired through the opening of
windows. By locating the bomb laboratory close to the school, the
pupils nearby were exposed to many dangers, including exploding
charges during tests, work accidents in the course of the production
of explosives and exposure to hazardous materials. The operatives
exploited the innocent appearance of the pupils arriving at school,
in order to conceal their activities.
Ahmed Muarbi, a senior Tanzim operative from Bethlehem, arrested on
May 27, 2002, admitted during questioning by the ISA that he
established his bomb laboratory in the Dehaishe Refugee Camp next to
a kindergarten. Ahmed and his fellow operatives prepared explosives
and conducted tests in the laboratory.
8. All the aforementioned activities referred to in this review are
prohibited by international law, they pose a threat to the well-being
and safety of Palestinian children and they must be severely and
unequivocally condemned. Pressure must be brought to bear on the
Palestinians to stop this activity immediately.