On April 7, 2019, a video was uploaded by the Gaza TV Media YouTube channel featuring a young Jordanian boy, Amir Al-Khasawne, dramatizing a scenario of marching towards Jerusalem to become a martyr. In the video, Amir, equipped with a slingshot and a toy rifle, tells his mother he is embarking on a distant journey from which he might not return. He expresses his intent to join “the martyr Omar Abu Laila and his friends” in Jerusalem. This reference is to an incident on March 19, 2019, when Omar Abu Laila fatally attacked Sgt. Gal Keidan and Rabbi Achiad Ettinger.
The video shows Amir vowing to retaliate against the Jews responsible for Laila’s death. When cautioned by his mother about the likelihood of death, Amir responds with a strong affirmation of his willingness to die for Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Visibly emotional, he appeals to the Arab world, emphasizing the significance of Jerusalem and lamenting its perceived betrayal. He ends his monologue by imploring the historical figure Saladin to “wake up.”
This video, produced by Mays Alreem for Television Photography, highlights the complex and sensitive issue of children’s involvement in political and religious conflicts, especially in contexts like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It illustrates how children can be influenced by and drawn into narratives of martyrdom and conflict.
© MEMRI TV
