Thief of Limbs! [Palestinian kids wounded by Palestinian bombs]
By Naela Khalil
The Jerusalem Times (independent Palestinian weekly) 1 July 2004
http://www.jerusalem-times.net/article/news/details/detail.asp?id=329&edition=536

As'ad, 14, from Balata Camp still keeps his finger that was
partially amputated by a locally manufactured explosive frozen in a
refrigerator for the past two months. He refused family attempts to get rid
of it.

As'ad was wounded as he was playing with one of the locally
manufactured hand bombs or what is known as the "Al-Kihta" or "Al-Kua" that
he found hidden in an area where he used to play.

"I want to keep it. It is my finger," As'ad said as he stared at his right
hand that had been seriously disfigured due to the incident. One of his
fingers was amputated and the rest were injured.

With a great curiosity, his small sisters gathered around a small can where
the amputated finger was covered with a medical piece of cloth.

His mother explained, "As'ad was wounded nearly two months ago
and remained in hospital for more than one month for treatment. The
physicians talked about the possibility of transplanting a finger for him in
the end of this year at a time As'ad lost his smile.

As'ad said, "I find it sufficient to watch my friends as they
play. I cannot even play my favourite computer games because they need both
hands."

Some children have sought to locally manufacture hand grenades
known as "Al-Kihta" or "Al-Kua", which resulted in many injuries to tens of
them who had either lost their lives or some of their limbs since the
beginning of the uprising.

Israel continuously markets the claims in which it says that
Palestinian organizations, especially the military ones recruit children in
military resistance works, which leads to series of injuries or even death.

Nayef Abu Sharakh, commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in
the West Bank, had denied such claims and asserted, "There is no intention
in this organization for children to participate in military resistance
activities."

Abu Sharakh explains that the reason behind the so many injuries
amongst children was that some resistance fighters store such explosives in
certain areas and children find them by way of coincidence and play with
them."

Rami, who had three fingers amputated due to such explosives
said, "I know these are dangerous materials, but what can we do. This is
the only thing remaining for youths to do. For the past four years I
haven't left Nablus City to any other area and I have nothing to do."