PMW: PA mayor: Israeli army shapes explosives like toys to target Palestinian children

In an interview on PA TV News, PA Mayor Mustafa Fuqaha claimed that the Israeli army deliberately "targets children and young ones." The mayor accused the Israeli army of leaving behind explosives "shaped like pens and toys" after training exercises "to tempt children to touch them or pick them up." 



Palestinian Media Watch has reported how similar libels were voiced by the PA during the PA's terror campaign (the Intifada). In 2003, PA TV viewers were told that Israelis "drop objects from jet planes that attract children to play with them and then they blow up. These are bombs and mines designed as toys."

In 2001, the official PA daily claimed that Israel had taken "a new step aimed to kill more children" by throwing "large quantities of poisoned candies in front of two schools." The paper reported on a medic who, "when he collected ten pieces of these unwrapped candies, [he] felt the rubber glove on his hand melting, in addition to experiencing breathing difficulties, strong headache, and dizziness."

These are examples of the PA's systematic program of spreading libels about Israelthat Palestinian Media Watch continues to document. 

The following are longer excerpts of the libels accusing Israel of deliberately targeting children by making explosives and poison look like toys and candies: 

PA TV newsreader: "What kinds of explosives are left [by the Israeli army after training]? We are talking about the explosions they cause."
Mustafa Fuqaha, Mayor of Ein Al-Bayda in the Jordan Valley: "Some [explosives] are in different shapes. Some are shaped like pens, and some look like toys. Some are in different shapes to tempt children to touch them or pick them up. This is a real danger and real proof that the Israeli army targets children and young ones."

[PA TV (Fatah), Dec. 29, 2012]

"They (i.e., Israel) drop objects from jet planes that attract children to play with them and then they blow up. These are bombs and mines designed as toys."

[PA TV (Fatah), March 3, 2003]

"In a new step aimed to kill more children, the occupation forces (i.e., Israel) threw large quantities of poisoned candies in front of two schools last night... Salem Ahmad, a medic, said that when he collected ten pieces of these unwrapped candies, he felt the rubber glove on his hand melting, in addition to experiencing breathing difficulties, strong headache, and dizziness."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 22, 2001]

Hamas Spokesman Urges Palestinian Civilians to Ignore IDF Warnings

This afternoon, the IDF dropped leaflets over the Gaza Strip, warning civilians to stay away from Hamas operatives and infrastructure.

The first leaflet:

To the residents of Sheikh Ajlin, Tel Al-Hwa, Rimal South, Zeitoun, Sjaiya, Turkeman and Sajiya Jadida: For your safety, you are required to evacuate your residences immediately and move towards the central Gaza city, via Al-Khara, Jma’at Al Dul Al Arabia, Al Aqsa Al Qudsiya, Um Alaimoun, Salah A-din, Al-Maqsurra, Hal’s Mjdad. In the central Gaza city, you are required to stay between the areas of Salah A-din from the west, Amar Al-Muchtar from the north, Al-Nasser from the east and Al-Quds St. from the south.

The second leaflet:

To the residents of of the outskirts of Shati, Al-Atatra, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun: for your safety, you are required to evacuate your residences immediately and move  towards central Gaza city via Al-Falujah, Al-Udda and Salah A-din. In the central Gaza city, you are required to stay between the roads of Salah A-din from the west, Amar Al-Muchtar from the north, Al-Nasser from the east and Al-Quds St. from the south.

A short while ago, the Hamas interior ministry spokesman was interviewed on Al-Quds Radio in Gaza and urged his listeners to ignore the IDF warnings. IDF intelligence was listening to the broadcast and relayed the following transcript:

Question: As the bombings go on, I want to address a specific issue: People have been receiving text messages urging them to evacuate their houses…

Hamas Interior Ministry Spokesperson: This is all part of the psychological warfare held by the Zionist enemy… So by using this way of communication, our public radio, I address all our Palestinian brothers by saying: Please do not listen to the orders noted on these text messages, their only purpose is spreading fear and panic within our people.

The IDF does everything it can to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Hamas uses civilians as human shields.

TERRORIST BLOWS UP BUS ON SHAUL HAMELECH STREET IN TEL AVIV AT NOON ON WEDNESDAY. 17 INJURIES REPORTED - 3 CRITICAL.

Police opened an immediate manhunt for two suspected terrorists. The explosion occurred on the No. 61 bus at the corner of of Shaul Hamelech and Henrietta Szold Streets just after noon. A suspect was arrested about half an hour after the explosion, but was quickly released from custody.

Eyewitnesses say they saw a person plant an explosive and run away. Al-Arabiya reported that at least one of the suspected terrorists was a woman.

"A bomb exploded on a bus in central Tel Aviv. This was a terrorist attack. Most of the injured suffered only mild injuries," said Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Celebratory gunfire rang out in Gaza City when local radio stations reported news of the Tel Aviv explosion. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the bombing, "Hamas blesses the attack in Tel Aviv and sees it as a natural response to the Israeli massacres...in Gaza."

Hamas war crimes, illustrated

Geneva Conventions

Protocol IAdditional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, 8 June 1977

Article 51:

2. The civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian populationare prohibited.

A volunteer goes through the apartment in Kiryat Malachi were three where killed Thursday, and looks for remains. November 15 2012. Photo by Yossi Zeliger/Flash90

4. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are: (a) those which are not directed at a specific military objective; (b) those which employ a method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific military objective; or (c) those which employ a method or means of combat the effects of which cannot be limitedas required by this Protocol; and consequently, in each such case, are of a nature to strike military objectives and civilians or civilian objectswithout distinction.

Rockets being fired from Gaza indiscriminately towards Israeli communities

5. Among others, the following types of attacks are to be considered as indiscriminate: ... an attack which may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.

Ultra Orthodox Jewish men gather around the body of Mirah Sharf who was killed in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi by a rocket thought to have been fired [!] by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, during her funeral in Jerusalem, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012.

6. Attacks against the civilian population or civilians by way of reprisalsare prohibited.

 Tel Aviv residents bracing themselves as rocket alarm sirens sound Thursday

7. The presence or movements of the civilian population or individual civilians shall not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations, in particular in attempts toshield military objectives from attacks or to shield, favour or impede military operations.

 A rocket launched by Palestinian militants towards Israel [from a heavily populated area of Gaza] makes its way from the northern Gaza Strip, seen from the Israel Gaza Border, southern Israel, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. (APPhoto/Ariel Schalit)