Dissident Voice
November 25, 2001
By Sunil K. Sharma

Early in the morning of November 22, five Palestinian children were blown to pieces by an Israeli mine or bomb as they headed to school in Khan Yunis. The children were 6 to 14 years-of-age, all from the Al Astel family. It is unclear if the explosion was set off by the children tripping over or kicking the device, or via remote control.

The next day, a senior Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) official was quoted on Israel Radio as saying "a big mistake was done." The officer admitted an undercover army unit planted the device "in the area," yet evaded any explanation as to why it was planted in the vicinity of a school. Yesterday, the IDF issued its first official statement regarding the killings. An IDF investigation revealed serious flaws in the planting and operation of the ordnance. Following the usual script, the IDF feigned "sorrow over the deaths of five children." The IDF claims the device was planted in an area used by Palestinians to fire mortars at nearby Israeli colonial settlements and army positions. Israel Radio quoted IDF officials as saying the "device was meant to remain well hidden and was to be set off when the Palestinian shooters returned to the area." (quoting Ha'aretz, 11/25/01)

Israeli opposition leader MK Yossi Sarid of Meretz, responding to IDF claims that their recent operations in Khan Yunis were designed to prevent Palestinian attacks, stated: "That's a targeted hit? Do you know who will pass by the area [where the bomb is planted]? It's a residential area. What kind of bombs do you place in an area where school children pass by?" (Ha'aretz, 11/24/01)

MK Ran Cohen (Meretz) has called for a Knesset committee to investigate the incident, expressing dismay that the IDF sat quietly for two days before putting out an official statement that amounts to little more than a cover-up.

MK Uri Ariel (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu) disagreed, stating that IDF investigations take time because they are thorough. "I have faith in the IDF," he stated. "[Ariel] said that the army was is in the throes of the battle in the territories, and was busy assassinating Mahmoud Abu Hanoud [of Hamas] and so could not concentrate solely on the investigation that Cohen demanded." (Ha'aretz, 11/25/01)

In other words: we were too busy trying to assassinate a Palestinian leader to investigate our killing of Palestinian children, but now that we've taken a five-minute breather from our assassination campaign we can conclude from our thorough investigation that a regretful mistake was made. Sorry kids, we'll try to do a better job of killing the right folks next time.

The Israelis have not condemned the killings, though some officials say an apology might perhaps be in order.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, the total number of Palestinians killed since the second Intifada erupted on September 29, 2000 is 821. 16,661 Palestinians have been injured, many maimed for life. Palestinian children under the age of 18 represent about 1/4 of those killed.

The Israeli killing of Palestinian children is not a sometimes accidental by-product of 34 years of occupation. It is in fact a matter of deliberate policy.

In a chilling interview conducted by Ha'aretz correspondent Amira Hass, an IDF sharpshooter admitted it was IDF policy to shoot at children above the age of 12. Here is an excerpt [AH = Hass, IS = Sharpshooter]:

(AH) You haven't shot children.

(IS) "All the sharpshooters haven't shot children."

(AH) But nonetheless there are children who were hit, wounded or killed after they were hit in the head. Unless these were mistakes.

(IS) "If they were children, they were mistakes."

(AH) Do they talk about this?

(IS) "They talk to us about this a lot. They forbid us to shoot at children."

(AH) How do they say this?

(IS) "You don't shoot a child who is 12 or younger."

(AH) That is, a child of 12 or older is allowed?

(IS) "Twelve and up is allowed. He's not a child any more, he's already after his bar mitzvah. Something like that."

(AH) Thirteen is bar mitzvah age.

(IS) "Twelve and up, you're allowed to shoot. That's what they tell us."

(AH) Again: Twelve and up you're allowed to shoot children.

(IS) "Because this already doesn't look to me like a child by definition, even though in the United States a child can be 23."

(AH) Under international law, a child is defined as someone up to the age of 18.

(IS) "Up until 18 is a child?"

(AH) So, according to the IDF, it is 12?

(IS) "According to what the IDF says to its soldiers. I don't know if this is what the IDF says to the media."

(AH) And children are from 12 down. Is there no order that between 12 and 18 you shoot at the legs and not the head?

(IS) "Of course we try to see to it that he really is over 20."

(AH) In the 10 seconds that you have.

(IS) "In the 10 seconds that I have, I have to estimate how old he is."

(AH) And in what direction the wind is blowing, and the deviation here and there, and which way he'll jump the next moment.

(IS) "Yes, but there are hardly any mistakes by sharpshooters. The mistakes are made by people who aren't sharpshooters."

(AH) And it turns out that they happen to hit the children's heads, and all this is just by chance?

(IS) "If you say you have seen children that have been hit in the head a lot, then it is sharpshooters."

(AH) So what you're saying is that our definition of children is different.

(IS) "Your definition is different."

(AH) Because for you it's someone who is 12.

(IS) "Yes."

(AH) But a child of 13 doesn't bear arms, no matter what you call him, a boy or a teenager or an adult.

(IS) "He isn't holding a gun but a firebomb, and in certain places it is possible also to fire on people who throw firebombs."