This week Israel has faced a number of terror attacks in a number of different forms, a truck ramming against civilians, a bombing attack on Joseph’s Tomb, terrorist mobs attacking busses by throwing rocks, and a stabbing attack against an Israeli civilian.
All of these were separate acts of terrorism but they are connected by a single thread – an irrational hatred of the Jewish people and a disdain the state of Israel.
We will focus on the final attack mentioned above because it helps to highlight the mindset of Palestinians and the brainwashing that is taking place amongst the population, to the point where they are willing to sacrifice their own children to the pursuit of Israel’s destruction.
On the evening of Wednesday, 30 August 2023, 14-year-old Khaled Samar Al-Zaanin went to a light rail station in Jerusalem armed with a kitchen knife and stabbed a 19-year-old Israeli teen in the back. He was attempting to murder the Israeli, simply because he was a Jew.
Al-Zaanin was shot dead as he attempted to stab other people. Many people condemned Israel for killing a child. Some have even claimed he was murdered and Israel planted the weapon on him. The reality is he was a terrorist, he tried to murder Jews and his parents not only confirmed it, they have praised it.
A statement from the family was released on 31 August 2023 stating:
“With more pride and honour, the family of Al-Zaanin, in the homeland and the diaspora is mourning its martyr, the fighter Khaled Samar Al-Zaanin, who was shot by the Zionists after a heroic stabbing operation in Jerusalem that had led to an occupiers injury with serious injuries. Glory to you, Khaled, in the paradise of eternity, God willing.”
Think about that for a moment, this was their child, a 14-year-old. It is a war crime under international law for children to be used in war (or indeed terrorism) and yet his own parents are praising his actions. They are praising the fact he threw his life away as he tried to murder a Jewish teen.
A 14-year-old Palestinian assailant stabbed a Jewish man in the back at the Shivte Israel light rail station near the Old City of Jerusalem this evening. The terrorist, identified as Samer Al-Za’anin, was shot and killed by an Israeli policeman, stopping the attack.… pic.twitter.com/VP5z2RgPt6
— The Israel Files (@theisraelfiles) August 30, 2023
Unfortunately, many Palestinian families that support terrorism also have fundamental beliefs that “martyrdom” is a holy act that guarantees entry into “paradise”. And not just for the “martyr”, but also for members of the family.
The family wasn’t the only one to praise this act. Below is an image posted to social media by the Islamic Bloc of the Al-Quds University, which has campuses in al-Bireh, Jerusalem and Hebron.
This image quotes the verse from the Quran, that says: “Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.” (Quran 3:169)
It then congratulates the terrorists sister for her brothers martyrdom:
“The Islamic Bloc at Al-Quds University extends its highest verses of pride and condolences to the student at the Faculty of Human Medicine, Yusra Samer Al-Za’anin, for the elevation of her brother after carrying out a heroic stabbing operation in occupied Jerusalem.”
You can be sure that the child who carried out this attack did not do it out of the blue, but because he was indoctrinated to carry out such an attack throughout his life. He’d have been taught that it was a good act from his family, from his mosque, from his school and from the television shows he watched. He was brain washed into believing it was right. It wasn’t just a political indoctrination, but a religious one too.
This story, and indeed the reaction of the family, highlights just how deep the hatred for Israel is within certain aspects of Palestinian society and a reminder of why there will never be peace until Palestinians change their attitude towards Israel and the Jewish people.
This year, we want to do more to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
We know that as we bless Israel this year, God will bless us, just as He promised in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Now is the time to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
