The IDF accused Hamas of the "cynical use of children" to help launch rocket attacks on Israel. Two children died in IDF attacks on terrorists Tuesday. Army spokesmen said it "regrets the use that the terrorist groups are making" of children.
"Children have no business being near Kassam rocket launchers," officers stated, and they raised the possibility that Islamic Jihad hired the children to collect launchers after the rockets were fired.
"A 14-year-old child has already fired an RPG rocket against an IDF force, and a grandmother aged close to 70 fired a light weapon against a Givati [Brigade] force recently in the Strip. What were these children doing there anyway?" Military sources told the Hebrew newspaper Ha'aretz.