Palestinian children trained to commit Hamas terrorism
If Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad used kids under 18 for fighting in the Gaza war, those got added to casualty figures as children killed. There is plenty of evidence Hamas uses under 18 year Olds for military purposes:
The UN verified the recruitment of two 17-year-old Palestinian boys by al-Qassam Brigade (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip.
The report provides a specific example:
On 3 May 2020, a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed at a Hamas military installation east of Jabalia.
Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades acknowledged him as a member.
Hamas stated he was killed accidentally while performing a night guarding mission.
UN monitoring indicated he had joined the organisation at least four months earlier.
Source: UNICEF — UNICEF — Children and Armed Conflict Bulletin 2020.
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Reuters: Hamas military wing trained teenagers (2013)
Reuters filmed teenagers attending Hamas military-wing summer camps in Gaza in June 2013.
Its footage showed teenagers:
Training with rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
Crawling under barbed wire.
Practising military exercises.
Training in mock tunnels.
Reuters also interviewed a camp instructor, Abd Annaser Alassar, who described teaching children to use weapons.
Source: Reuters — Hamas military wing holds four summer camps to train children in military affairs
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The UN Secretary-General’s 2024 report on children and armed conflict states in paragraph 107:
During 2023 in the Gaza Strip, Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades organized “summer camps”, including for children, exposing them to military content and activities.
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According to the Long War Journal, on 13 June 2021 Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades announced registration for military training camps.
The announcement invited males from preparatory-school age through university age to receive combat instruction from al-Qassam military trainers.
The publication also reported that Hamas had previously published footage documenting children’s military training.
Al-Qassam Brigades announces military training camp for children and teenagers
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Israeli military: Allegations of underage recruitment during the Gaza war (2024)
On 3 January 2024, the Israel Defense Forces published an intelligence statement alleging that Hamas and Islamic Jihad used children to:
- Deliver ammunition and messages.
- Transport explosives concealed in vegetable bags.
- Assess damage following Israeli strikes.
- Undertake other supporting military tasks.
Source : A Hamas ‘Zeytoun’ Battalion, detailed the terrorist organization’s fighting doctrine.
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Palestinian minors involved in suicide bombings and attempted attacks (2002–2004)
Safwat Abdel Rahman
Age 17
25 Jan 2002
Islamic Jihad Suicide bombing
Ayat al-Akhras
Age 17
29 Mar 2002
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
Issa Abedrabbu Ibrahim Badir
Age 17
May 2002
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
Hamza Aref Samudi
Age 17
5 Jun 2002
Islamic Jihad
Sabih Abu al-Saoud
Age 16
Mar 2003
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
Khamis Gerwan
Age 17 Aug 2003
Hamas Suicide bombing
Islam Qteishat
Age 17 Aug 2003
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
Iyad al-Masri
Age 17
Jan 2004
Islamic Jihad Suicide bombing
Umar Abdullah al-Fa’r
Age 16 1 Nov
2004 PFLP Suicide bombing
Arrested wearing explosives, Jenin
Age16
May 2002
Attempted attack
Three boys, Tubas
Aged 13–15 Mar
2004 Al-Aqsa / Islamic Jihad
Abdullah Quran / Koran
Aged 11–12
15 Mar 2004
Tanzim
Explosives intercepted; reportedly unaware he was carrying a bomb
Hussam Abdo / Abduh
Aged 14–16
24 Mar 2004
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
Suicide bombing attempt stopped at Huwara checkpoint
Sources:
- Human Rights Watch — Palestinian Children Used in Suicide Bombings
- Child Soldiers Global Report 2004
- Amnesty International — Children Must Not Be Used by Armed Groups
- ABC News Australia — Children Drawn Into Deadly Suicide Attacks
- Associated Press — Palestinian Teen: I Didn’t Want to Die
