This post is also available in:
English
Short answer
Hamas’s actions toward children are marked by deliberate brutality and exploitation. On October 7th, Hamas committed “kinocide,” a term describing the systematic destruction of families, akin to genocide but focused on familial bonds.
This involved the deliberate murder of children in awful ways, including burning and desecration. They took approximately 30 children hostage, subjecting them to torture and abuse, including the Bibas infants who were brutally killed with bare hands, after which their bodies were desecrated.
In addition, Hamas actively uses Gazan children as human shields, recruits child soldiers, and indoctrinates them with violent extremism. This deliberate conversion of Gazan children to military targets stands in obvious contrast to Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties, despite the tragic losses that occur during conflict.
Long answer
Hamas’s treatment of children, both Israeli and Gazan, is abhorrent and fundamentally contrasts with Israel’s approach to a civilian population, including children.
The term “kinocide” has been proposed to describe the deliberate weaponization and destruction of families, as perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. This act, akin to genocide but focused on familial bonds, is evidenced by reports and documentation of children being killed in horrific ways. Infants and young children were murdered, sometimes in their beds.
Hamas militants deliberately targeted families in their homes, resulting in the deaths of parents and children. Parents were murdered in front of their children, and children in front of their parents. Infants were gunned down, and families were burned alive.
Approximately 30 children were taken hostage during the October 7th attacks. These hostages, including children, were subjected to harsh conditions, including potential psychological and physical abuse. They were often separated from their families, adding to their distress. Reports indicate some children were tortured. The Bibas children, Ariel and Kfir, were murdered “with bare hands,” after which Hamas committed horrific acts to cover up the atrocities, including desecrating the children’s bodies.
In stark contrast, the IDF does not engage in the practice of taking children as hostages, nor does it intentionally target children. While children in Gaza are tragically killed and injured during Israeli military operations, Israel’s primary focus remains on military operations aimed at countering threats and defending Israel.
The IDF takes extensive measures to mitigate civilian casualties, including issuing warnings before attacks and using precision-guided munitions. The IDF adheres to the principles of international humanitarian law, including targeting only military objectives, proportionality (ensuring that civilian harm is not excessive in relation to the military advantage gained), and taking all feasible precautions to minimize civilian harm.
Hamas, however, deliberately converts Gazan children into military targets. They employ tactics such as using children as human shields, recruiting and training child soldiers, indoctrinating children with extremist ideologies and promoting violence, and manipulating the education system in Gaza to glorify violence.
