A TRAGIC new twist was added to the Middle East conflict when three 14-year-old Palestinian classmates were buried in Gaza this week after mounting a futile attack that ended with them being shot by Israeli soldiers.
They were victims of a disturbing trend among Palestinian children to copy their elders by participating in the 19-month-old uprising. They reflect a desperate desire for revenge in Palestinian areas over the four-week-old Israeli offensive on the West Bank.
The three boys – Youssef Zaqout, Anwar Hamdouna and Ismail Abu Nadi – packed away their bags after school on Tuesday at the Sheikh Rudwan district in Gaza City, told their parents they were going to visit friends and set off to attack an isolated Jewish settlement, Netzarim. They launched their attack armed with four knives, an axe and crude, home-made explosives, but did not even get within striking range. Israeli soldiers shot them dead around midnight as the three crawled towards the settlement.
Thousands of Palestinians marched behind the coffins of the boys to a cemetery in Gaza City. The boys who were killed knew their mission was doomed as all three left suicide notes for their families saying that they were seeking “martyrdom”.
Many parents in Gaza expressed horror that children as young as these had been drawn into the conflict and feared for their own children. Even Hamas, the Islamic militant group responsible for most of the suicide bombers, expressed horror and described the boys’ actions as a “national catastrophe”.
Palestinian children have suffered disproportionately in the uprising. Many of them have been shot by the Israeli army while throwing stones at tanks or at soldiers. But it has been rare for children to attempt to repeat the activities of Hamas.
Tawfiq Salman, a psychiatrist in Bethlehem, said: “Ninety per cent of Palestinian children suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome as a result of the Israeli closures and the shootings.”
Fadel Abu Heen, a psychologist, said many children were severely traumatised by seeing and hearing of Palestinians being killed by the Israelis. He blamed graphic televised scenes of burned and dismembered bodies shown repeatedly on Arab television. He urged militant leaders and religious leaders to wake up to the risks and work to restrain suicidal adolescent impulses.
After leaving their homes, the three boys marched six kilometres to Netzarim settlement. About 6 000 Jewish settlers have opted to live among Gaza’s 1,1-million Palestinians and are protected by about 10 000 Israeli soldiers.
The death of the children has had little impact in Israel. An army spokeswoman said: “The Israeli Defence Force identified three suspicious figures crawling a number of metres away from the fence that protects Netzarim. They opened fire and the three were killed.”
In his farewell note, Zaqout wrote: “Oh mother, please be happy with me. I ask you to pray to God to make my martyrdom operation a success. I am giving my soul for the sake of God and the homeland.”
Abu Naid wrote: “Dad, Mum, forgive me. I am going to carry out a martyrdom operation against a settlement.”
Zaqout’s mother, asked if she understood his motives, said: “Children are tormented by what they see on television. Israel has left all Palestinians with no choice but to die.”
Ibrahim Jaroush, among dozens of children waiting at a Gaza hospital for the arrival of the three boys’ bodies, said he wanted to emulate their deed. “I want to get revenge for the boys killed by [Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon,” the 11-year-old said.