Nelson Mandela
We've seen how Hamas treats the children of Gaza, training them as soldiers in after school programs and summer camps. Hamas has used children as human shields, and as forced labor in the past
Todays events, in light of Hamas's past are not surprising. It is still heartbreaking to see an attempt at peace-making so cynically discarded.
A group of 37 children from Gaza ages 5 to 12 whose fathers were killed in the war between Hamas and Israel, were prevented from leaving Gaza today after Hamas rescinded an agreement with Israel. The children were already on the bus, waiting to cross the border.
From Y NET
The children. were set...to visit an Israeli safari, tour the Bediun town of Rahat, and even meet Palestinian President Abbas in Ramallah. They were also scheduled to tour the Israeli communities which live near the Gaza border.
Eyad Bozum, a spokesman for Hamas, said the children were prevented from traveling Sunday to "protect the culture of our children and our people" from normalizing relations with Israel.
He says Hamas turned the children back when they arrived at a crossing into Israel. He says Hamas would make sure such an attempt "will never happen again."
The idea behind the visit was to show the children the other side of the conflict, and the initiative was led by Yoel Marshak, from the Kibbutz Movement.
It is increasing obvious that if Gaza is an "open air prison", that Hamas is the jailer.
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| Palestinian children wait on a bus at Erez crossing in Beit Hanun in the north of the Gaza Strip on December 28, 2014, before being prevented by Hamas from entering Israeli territory in a pre-arranged week-long trip, organizers and officials said. AFP PHOTO/MAHMUD HAMS |
