Exclusive | This is How Israel Militarizes Children - As Young As 7 - to Perpetuate Occupation
Israel has created a comprehensive system to militarize children and prepare them for army service and occupation duties.
From as young as seven, children participate in military-style training programs, including airsoft simulations, combat fitness courses, and pre-military academies, where they learn combat skills, weapons handling, tactical coordination, and military discipline. School programs also expose students to soldiers and army operations, instilling obedience, combat readiness, and a rigid ideological mindset.
These programs are often supported by the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Education, but private religious, right-wing, and settler organizations play a central role in shaping ideology and values. Longer programs focus on elite and technical army units, giving children hands-on experience with drones, ammunition calculations, and operational problem-solving.
The psychological and social impact on children is significant, normalizing violence and fostering extreme commitment to military service. This militarization extends into society, contributing to higher tolerance for aggression and brutality.
Israeli settlers also deploy minors, some as young as 12, to harass Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Children vandalize property, threaten residents, herd livestock, and damage infrastructure, while armed adults escalate attacks, forcing families to flee.
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