Palestinian children hold mock trial for Israeli war criminals

In the shadow of daily bombardment of their homes and schools by Israeli occupation troops, a group of Palestinian children held Wednesday a mock trial of Israeli war criminals charged with murder with malice aforethought and crimes against humanity.

The purpose of the "trial" is to attract international attention to the daily crimes and atrocities committed by the Israeli war machine against defenseless Palestinian civilians, and to remind the world at large of its moral and legal responsibility to see to it that Israeli crimes against

Palestinians are punished and not ignored, Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported.

The trial began with the "attorney-general," played by a seven-year old child from the Jabalya refugee camp, asking the accused soldier, played by another child, "why did you kill all those Palestinian children, did they pose a threat to your life and the lives of other occupation soldiers?" the accused "soldier" said "yes, arousing an uproar of disapproval and Protest in the court, prompting the judge to shout "quiet, quiet."

Then another child, Ala Al Ayyoubi, went on questioning the defendant: "tell me what danger did Muhammed Durra pose to your life as your bullets chased him as he was seeking cover from death?"

The defendant remained silent, saying only that "he was carrying orders." Then the judge, a child named Muzer Al-Hanjouri, read the verdict.

"After examining the evidence at hand, and after hearing testimonies by the witnesses, the court declares that you are guilty of murder with malice aforethought court adjourned."

The mock trial, which is not the first of its kind to be played in the Gaza Strip, reflect the deep frustration of the Palestinian society at the world community that ignores Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians while continuing to make lip service to human rights.