Today on International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, as we stand up against the use of children in war and violent conflict, Hamas continues to recruit children in its violent campaign against Israel.

This campaign includes annual summer camps hosted by Hamas for Palestinian youth who, instead of swimming and playing games, are taught how to use weapons and enter Israel through tunnels. Children are also often used as human shields –both in protests as well as through Hamas’s storage of weapons and rockets in Palestinian schools.

“From a very young age, Palestinian children’s innocence is taken away as they are taught to hate the Jewish people of Israel and trained to commit violent acts.Hamas has complete disregard for children’s rights – include their right to life,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. 

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center urges Canadian leaders and leaders around the world to recognize and confront Hamas’s use of children as soldiers and human shields inits ongoing effort to destroy the State of Israel.