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NABLUS, West Bank - They were young, perhaps the youngest ever to try an armed attack against Israelis, and they were ready to die.
The arrest of three boys ages 12, 13 and 15, accused of trying to slip into Israel with homemade guns, sparked horror among their families and concern by Palestinian officials that terrorist groups have gone too far in their choice of recruits.
"That's absolutely unacceptable," said Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat. "Our children should have hope and a future and should not be suicide bombers. We want them to be doctors and engineers."
Israeli forces arrested the three Palestinian youths from the village of Tubas, near Nablus, on Thursday as they tried to cross a checkpoint.
The boys said they planned to shoot people in the northern Israeli city of Afula.
The army said it had not decided whether to charge the boys.
The boys, Jaffar Dababaat, 12, Tarek Abu Mahsen, 13, and Ibrahim Suafta, 15, left behind a letter saying they wanted to strike a blow against the barrier Israel is building in the West Bank. The note identified Tarek as a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the other two as members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
"If we die, if we become martyrs, don't feel sorry for us. Just have a massive protest in our honor and distribute sweets to everyone," the letter said.
"My son doesn't know how to write such a letter and never belonged to any groups. Someone older wrote this letter for him," said Tarek's mother, Amira Abu Mahsen.
An Al Aqsa official denied the group had sent the boys. Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesmen could not be reached.