Mahmud Abas, a.k.a. Abu Mazan, Yasser Arafat’s deputy in the PLO and one of the senior officials of the Palestinian Authority revealed the exploitation of children in the Gaza Strip by terrorist organizations. 

These children are paid to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel. Quoting from an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper "Alzaman"  on 20 June 2002, the Jordanian newspaper "Alrai" cited Abu Mazan as saying the following:

"I am against little children sent out to die. It is a terrible thing. At least 40 children in Rafah lost their arms from the throwing of Bangalore torpedos [a form of pipe bomb]. They received 5 Shekels [approx. $US 1.00] in order to throw them. Who would be prepared for something like that to happen to his son or to his family? In the end there was an uproar regarding the 13 year old children sent against the settlements. Why is this done?"

Things have not become better since, the abuse of Palestinian children by the Palestinian leadership continues.

Abu Mazen served in the meantime as the PM of the Palestinian Authority, but had to resign fast. In the present Palestinian leadership there is no place for leaders like Abu Mazen, telling the unpleasant truth, at least sometimes...

Palestinian child abuse will stop only, as Golda Meir, Israel's then Prime Minister said once, "We will have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us."