Wanton killing of Palestinian children goes unreported and uncondemned by US media

The Palestinian Initiative for the promotion of a Global dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) strongly condemns the latest escalations by the Israeli troops who are targeting Palestinian children and families throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

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Israeli troops have shot and killed two Palestinian children in Jenin, 14-year-old Ahmad Abahreh and 12-year-old Hakkam Nassar, as the occupation troops opened fire for two consecutive days at Palestinian children in the West Bank city. Scores of children have been taken to hospital, many of them shot and in serious condition.

In Bethlehem, Israeli commando units opened fire at two civilian cars in the biblical town. The first car belonged to George Saadi who was driving home with his wife and two daughters when he was heavily sprayed with bullets by the commando unit. 10-year-old Kristeen was killed on the spot; her sister, mother and father were taken to a hospital. George Saadi is in critical condition as he received a bullet to the head fired by the terrorizing troops.

The second civilian car driving behind the Saadis had three male passengers riding in it, all three men were pronounced dead. 33-year-old Abd Al Razak Shahadeh was one of the three men; the other two have not yet been identified.

While all eyes are fixed on Iraq, the Israeli army has been escalating their attacks, settlement activity and restrictions imposed on Palestinian towns, villages and cities. Most of the West Bank has been under curfew with many of the citizens fearing for their lives, as no country or international organizations are keeping the occupation army in check during this difficult time when war crimes are expected to increase.

MIFTAH calls upon the international community to take immediate action to stop such murderous assaults against the Palestinian people. The number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli troops since September 2000 has reached 487. We urge the international community to take a stance against injustice and to provide protection to the occupied Palestinian people and children who are not only being robbed of their innocence, but are being systematically targeted and killed by the Israeli occupation forces.

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—Al-Awda, March 26, 2003