PHOTOS BY AMEED
INTERVIEWED BY ALAA FALAH

Young Palestinians basically have two choices: Die for Fatah or die for Hamas. It’s kind of like the extreme political bipolarity in America, except instead of incessant bitching from armchairs, everyone has AK-47s, hates Israel, and might kidnap your family just to get a point across. In short, Fatah wants to form a singular Islamic state and attempt to coexist beside Israel, while Hamas is less compromising and wants to revert to the borders that existed prior to the Six-Day War in 1967. However, it often seems like the two parties are more concerned with killing each other in violent street fights than in battling their common enemy. We asked a bunch of Palestinian kids what they thought about the whole bloody mess.

Ahmed Dwaikat, 21, lives in Beta Village, near Nablus City in the West Bank, has two children, and is a construction worker. Vice: Fatah or Hamas, which is it for you?

Ahmed: Do you see your childrens’ future with Fatah? Have you lost friends in the struggle? Hatem Darwish is 18 years old. He’s from Beta Village.

Vice: Which do you support, Fatah or Hamas?

Hatem: Why did you decide on Fatah? Which does your family support? What do you think Fatah provides for people? Would you die for your country?

Mohamad Abo Hamdan is a 15-year-old who lives in Balata Camp. He’s a student who sometimes works as a vendor.

Vice: Hamas or Fatah?

Mohamad: What makes Hamas your choice? Would you die for your country? So that’s a yes. Ameed Khudareyeh is 21 years old and lives in Nablus. He is a university student and sells shoes at a market.

Vice: Who do you support, Fatah or Hamas?

Ameed: What has caused the current political situation? And does your family have the same opinion?

Would you die for your country? We’ll take that as a no. Samer Salem, 23, is a taxi driver in the al-Ein camp for Palestinian refugees.

Vice: Do you support Fatah or Hamas?

Samer: What causes it? Would you die for your cause?

Salma Awad is a 16-year-old living in Nablus City. She is a student. Vice: Do you support or belong to any movement?

Salma: Why did you choose Fatah? And will you continue with Fatah no matter what? Would you sacrifice your life for your country?