Child suicide bombers in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinian militant groups have recruited minors to attack Israeli targets, both military and civilian, especially during the al-Aqsa Intifada. In some cases these attacks have been suicidal in nature. This deliberate involvement of children in armed conflict has been condemned by international organisations and certain Palestinian groups.Occupied Territories: Stop Use of Children in Suicide Bombings (Human Rights Watch, 2-11-2004)BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Child suicide attacks 'must stop'
==Overview==
According to the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers "2004 Global Report on the Use of Child Soldiers", there were at least nine documented suicide attacks involving Palestinian minors between October 2000 and March 2004Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers p. 292 In 2004, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers reported that "there was no evidence of systematic recruitment of children by Palestinian armed groups," also noting that this remains a small fraction of the problem in other conflict zones such as Africa, where there are an estimated 20,000 children involved in active combat roles in the Sudan alone. Human Rights Watch also reported that "there was no evidence that the Palestinian Authority (PA) recruited or used child soldiers." 
According to the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group, in the al-Aqsa Intifada, Palestinian military folk have used children as "messengers and couriers, and in some cases as fighters and suicide bombers in attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians." Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) have all been implicated in involving children in this way, see Convention on the Rights of the Child. The issue was first brought to world attention after a widely televised incident in which a mentally handicapped Palestinian teenager, Hussam Abdo, was disarmed at an Israeli checkpoint. Video footage can be found at The youngest Palestinian suicide bomber who blew himself up was Issa Bdeir, a 16-year-old high school student from the village of Al Doha. He blew himself up in a park in Rishon LeZion, killing a teenage boy and an elderly man. 
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International has strongly and repeatedly condemned violence against civilians: Palestinian armed groups have repeatedly shown total disregard for the most fundamental human rights, notably the right to life, by deliberately targeting Israeli civilians and by using Palestinian children in armed attacks. Children are susceptible to recruitment by manipulation or may be driven to join armed groups for a variety of reasons, including a desire to avenge relatives or friends killed by the Israeli army. http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library
Despite the harsh condemnations and internal controversy, Palestinian militant groups such as Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Islamic Jihad, have used children as militants and suicide bombers.
==Indoctrinating children==
According to emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of Virginia School of Medicine Vamik Volkan, 
Most suicide bombers in the Middle East are chosen as teenagers, “educated,” and then sent off to perform their duty when they are in their late teens or early to mid-twenties. The "education" is most effective when religious elements of the large-group identity are provided as solutions for the personal sense of helplessness, shame, and humiliation. Replacing borrowed elements sanctioned by God for one’s internal world makes that person omnipotent and
supports the individual’s narcissism.
I found that there was little difficulty in finding young men interested in becoming suicide bombers in Gaza and the West Bank. Repeated actual and expected events humiliate youngsters and interfere with their adaptive identifications with their parents because their parents are humiliated as well.Vamik D. Volkan: Suicide Bombers Virginia University
Volkan gives the examples of beatings, torture, or the loss of a parent as typical humiliating events which might make a young person more susceptible to recruitment for suicide terrorism.
Once recruited, children and teenagers are encouraged to cut off contact with "real world" affairs and subjected to an intense program of memorization and repetition of the Qur'an based more on sound than on meaning.
The typical technique of creating Middle Eastern Muslim suicide bombers includes two basic steps: first, the "teachers" find young people whose personal identity is already disturbed and who are seeking an outer "element" to internalize so they can stabilize their internal world. Second, they develop a "teaching method" that "forces" the large-group identity, ethnic and/or religious, into the "cracks" of the person’s damaged or subjugated individual identity. Once people become candidates to be suicide bombers, the routine rules and regulations, so to speak, or individual psychology does not fully apply to their patterns of thought and action.
Anne Speckhard, adjunct associate Professor of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center and Professor of Psychology, Vesalius College, Free University of Brussels, writes:
In the Palestinian territories, there currently exists a "cult of martyrdom". From a very young age children are socialized into a group consciousness that honors "martyrs", including human bombers who have given their lives for the fight against what is perceived by Palestinians to be the unjust occupation of their lands. Young children are told stories of "martyrs". Many young people wear necklaces venerating particular "martyrs", posters decorate the walls of towns and rock and music videos extol the virtues of bombers. Each act of suicide terrorism is also marked by a last testament and video, which are prepared ahead of time by the "martyr" who can later reach great popularity when the video is played on television. Despite the very deep and real grief of the family and friends left behind, the funerals of “martyrs” are generally accompanied with much fanfare by community and sponsoring organization. Often, the effect of this is confusing to outsiders as it can disrupt, delay and even circumvent the family’s ability to focus on its grief over the loss of a family member and it may even support the family in claiming to outsiders joy over the loss of its loved one. This "cult of martyrdom", which has a strong underpinning in longstanding cultural roots (the honoring of martyrs), appears to have developed principally over the last decade, as the first act of suicide terrorism occurred in Israel only twelve years ago."Speckhard, Anne. “Understanding Suicide Terrorism: Countering Human Bombs and Their Senders” in Topics in Terrorism: Toward a Transatlantic Consensus on the Nature of the Threat (Volume I) Eds. Jason S. Purcell & Joshua D. Weintraub Atlantic Council Publication 2005.
Umm Nidal, who sent three of her sons, including one 17 year old, on suicide attacks, said "I love my children, but as Muslims we pressure ourselves and sacrifice our emotions for the interest of the homeland. The greater interest takes precedence to the personal interest." She was later elected to the Palestinian legislature on the Hamas ticket. According to Human Rights Watch, Major Palestinian armed groups, including Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas, have publicly disavowed the use of children in military operations, but those stated policies have not always been implemented. Some leaders, including representatives of Islamic Jihad and Hamas, have said that they consider children of 16 to be adults. International law defines a child as any person under the age of eighteen. [...] Israeli government policy in the Occupied Territories defines Palestinians under the age of 16 as minors while Israeli children in the same territories are considered minors until they reach the age of 18.
== History ==
=== Incidents from September 2000 through 2003 ===
According to the Israel Defense Forces:
* Since the beginning of violence in the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000, 29 suicide attacks have been carried out by youth under the age of 18.
* Since May 2001, 22 shootings attacks and attacks using explosive devices were carried out by youth under the age of 18. 
* Since the beginning of 2001, more than 40 youths under the age of 18 were involved in attempted suicide bombings that were thwarted (of them, three during 2004).
On 29 March 2002, Ayat al-Akhras, a teenager from the Deheishe Refugee Camp near Bethlehem, detonated explosives strapped around her waist in a supermarket in Jerusalem, killing herself, a 17-year-old Israeli girl named Rachel Levy, and a 55-year-old security guard named Haim Smadar.
==== "Baby Suicide Bomber" photo ====
The 'Baby Suicide Bomber' refers to a photo that received media attention in 2002.Baby bomber photo a horrific symbol, New Zealand Herald (syndicating the Independent), published July 1, 2002
During a search done on 29 June, 2002, of a house belonging to a Hamas militant in the town of Hebron, The IDF found a photo showing a Palestinian infant dressed as a Hamas terrorist wearing a suicide bomber's harness.
The picture shows a boy, about 18 months old, standing wide-eyed in a baby suit. Red wires are strapped to his waist, which is clad in a pretend explosives belt, and across his head is tied a red bandana of Hamas.
According to BBC News the baby's grandfather, Redwan Abu Turki, said that the dressing of the infant baby as a bomber was from a rally at the university and that "the picture was taken just for the fun of it".Baby bomber photo 'just fun', BBC News, published June 29, 2002
Israeli newspapers published the photograph under headlines such as "Terror in Diapers" "Terror in Diapers" (photo caption), Maariv, as cited by Photo of baby suicide bomber called 'a joke', CNN, published June 29, 2002 and "Born to Kill"."Born to kill" (photo caption), The Jerusalem Post, published June 28, 2002 Israeli Prime Minister Sharon's advisor Dore Gold said the picture "symbolizes the hatred and incitement which the Palestinian leadership has been feeding a whole generation of Palestinian youths." "Argument over baby’s picture", Agence France-Presse, published June 28, 2002 At the U.S. State Department, spokesman Richard Boucher stated that he considered the image as "a highly objectionable display." Excerpts: June 28, 2002 Press Briefing, The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs on behalf of the U.S. State Department, published June 28, 2002
While Palestinian officials dismissed it as a propaganda trick, Haaretz reported that a Palestinian journalist in the Hebron area said she did not believe the picture was a fake and expressed surprise at the furor it caused in Israel "PA minister: Israelis shouldn't be shocked by 'baby bomber' pic", Haaretz, published June 29, 2002 (online copy, December 6, 2005: )
Other photos of children dressed up as terrorists have been published since then.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2075072.stm
=== Incidents in 2004 ===
On March 24, 2004, one week after capturing a bomb in the bag of 12-year-old Abdullah Quran, Hussam Abdo, a 16-year-old Palestinian (who initially claimed he was 14), was captured in a checkpoint near Nablus wearing an explosive belt. The young boy was paid by the Tanzim militia to detonate himself at the checkpoint. IDF soldiers manning the checkpoint were suspicious of him and told him to stay away from people. Later, an EOD team arrived and by using a police-sapper robot, removed the explosive belt from him.http://www1.idf.il/SIP_STORAGE/DOVER/files///1//28131.jpgIsraelis say boy, 11, used as bomber | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited Hussam explained that he was offered 100 NIS and sex with virgins if he would perform the task. He said his friends mocked him in class.Ynet "נער הנפץ" לחיילים: באתי להתפוצץ כי הבטיחו סקס - חדשות 
On May 29, 2004, The New York Times reported Israeli allegations that the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades were using children to recruit classmates as suicide bombers.
One child, Nasser Awartani, 15, of Nablus allegedly recruited four of his classmates, one of whom was claimed by the Shabak report on Awartani to be Hussam Abdo.
On June 16, 2004, two girls - aged 14 and 15 were arrested by the IDF for allegedly plotting a suicide bombing. According to an IDF statement, the two children were recruited by activists from Tanzim (Fatah's armed wing), guided by Hezbollah. 
On July 3, the Israeli Security Forces thwarted a suicide bombing which it claimed was to have been carried out by 16-year-old Muataz Takhsin Karini. Karini and two of his operators were arrested, while a 12 kg explosive belt was detonated safely by an Israeli EOD crew.נעצרו 3 פלשתינאים שתיכננו פיגוע בירושלים - חדשות -הארץ On June 5, IDF forces detonated two explosive belts concealed in schoolbags. On July 14, the Shin Bet arrested in Kfar Maskha a suicide bomber. The bomber was identified as 17-year-old Ahmed Bushkar from Nablus.צה"ל הרג בכיר בחמאס שהתבצר בחברון - וואלה! חדשות
On September 23, 2004, a day before Yom Kippur, the Shin Bet and the Israel Police announced their capture of a 15-year-old suicide bomber and a 7 kg explosive belt in the village of Dir-Hana in the Western Galilee. The 15-year-old was part of joint terrorist cell of Tanzim and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from Yamon village near Jenin. The four were Palestinians who worked illegally in Israel. The 15-year-old was allegedly paid 1000 shekels in order to blow himself up in Afula.Haaretz - Israel Newsהארץ - מאמר
According to a Shabak report published on September 26, 2004, about 292 Palestinian children have been involved in terrorism.,(DOC, Hebrew)
On September 27, 2004, a 15-year-old suspected suicide bomber was arrested in Nablus.נעצר פלסטיני בן 15 החשוד בכוונה לבצע פיגוע התאבדות - וואלה! חדשות On October 28, Ayub Maaruf, a 16-year-old Fatah suicide bomber, was arrested near Nablus along with his operator.חדשות NRG - המחבל המיועד: נער בן 16
On November 1, 16-year-old Aamer Alfar blew himself in Tel Aviv's Carmel Market, killing 3 Israelis in a suicide bombing that was claimed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Alfar's mother and father condemned what they saw as the exploitation of their son: 
"God will curse those who recruited Amar. I had heard the stories about recruiting children in Nablus but I didn't think they were true... Yes, it is difficult here for everyone because of the occupation, and life in Nablus is intolerable, but children should not be exploited in this way."
On November 4, a 15-year-old suicide bomber was arrested in Nablus.
=== Incidents in 2005 ===
On February 3, Mahmoud Tabouq, a 15- or 16-year-old Palestinian, was arrested at the Huwara checkpoint near Nablus carrying a bag containing an explosive belt, an improvised gun, and 20 bullets. The belt was detonated safely by a Magav bomb squad. Video is available on a page
On April 12, a 15-year-old Palestinian boy identified as Hassan Hashash was caught at Huwara checkpoint hiding five pipe bombs under his coat. He tried to ignite them with a match when the soldiers apprehended him. Later he was disarmed, and sappers detonated the bombs safely. Family members of Hashash suggested that he deliberately carried bombs into an IDF checkpoint in order to be arrested and study for the "Bagrut" final exams in the Israeli jail. A week later, another Palestinian youth (aged 17) was caught carrying explosives in Beit Furik checkpoint.
On April 27, two Palestinian teenagers, both aged 15 (though other sources cite their ages as 12 and 13), were arrested at a checkpoint near Jenin after 11 explosive charges were found on them. One teenager was recruited by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the other by the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. The two told interrogators that they had been acting as couriers for terrorists, but security forces suspect they planned to get close to the soldiers and then detonate the charges. 
On May 22, Iad Ladi, a 14- or 15-year-old Palestinian suicide bomber was arrested at a Huwara checkpoint near Nablus. This was the 14th time during April and May that a Palestinian child was arrested as a bomber or a courier. Two days later, another 15-year-old Palestinian teen carrying two pipe bombs, was caught at the same checkpoint. On June 15, The Israeli press reported that the Shabak arrested a Palestinian terrorist cell in Nablus during the previous month. The cell included eight members, four of whom were child suicide bombers. The cell was on the verge of committing another suicide bombing attack using the four children. According to the Shin Bet, the cell was directed and funded by the Fatah's Tanzim branch and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
On October 11, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy was arrested by IDF forces. He told the soldiers he was forced to agree to commit a suicide bombing when two terrorists from Fatah's Tanzim faction threatened to murder him by spreading a leaflet accusing him of collaboration unless he agreed. They took pictures of him with a gun and the Qur'an and forced him to write his own will.
=== Incidents in 2007 ===
On August 27, 2007, A 15-year-old Palestinian boy carrying 2 explosive devices on his body, was arrested in the northern Gaza Strip after he attempted to carry out an attack against soldiers operating in the area against Palestinians launching Qassam rockets on Israeli civilians across the border inside Israel 
== See also ==
* List of Palestinian militant groups suicide attacks
* Children and minors in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
* Female suicide bomber
* Military use of children
* Palestinian political violence
* Human rights in the Palestinian National Authority
==References==
==Further reading==
*Landau, Elaine (2007): Suicide Bombers: Foot Soldiers of the Terrorist Movement. Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN 076133470X
*Greenberger, Robert (2007): Suicide Bombers. The Rosen Publishing Group
*Bloom, Mia (2005): Dying to Kill: The Allure of Suicide Terror. NY: Columbia University Press.
*Carpenter, Charli R. (2006): Innocent Women And Children: Gender, Norms and the Protection of Civilians. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0754647455
*Charny, Israel W. (2006): Fighting Suicide Bombing: A Worldwide Campaign for Life. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0275993361
==External links==
* Children's Rights Institute
* Suicide Bombers by Vamik D. Volkan of Virginia University.
* School trains suicide bombers By Jeremy Cooke in Gaza. BBC. 18 July 2001
* Why a Palestinian girl now wants to be a suicide bomber by Cameron W. Barr. The Christian Science Monitor. April 1, 2002
* The Recruitment of Children in Current Palestinian Strategy by Justus Weiner. Institute for Contemporary Affairs. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Category:Suicide bombing in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict