Gaza Baker Wondering If Fudge Suitable For Celebrating Kidnapping Of Teens

Gaza City, Gaza Strip, June 15 – The owner of a confectionery in this Palestinian coastal city is unsure whether he should be distributing fudge to express joy over the three Israeli teenagers taken hostage by Hamas, or whether the choice of sweet might be inappropriate.

Hassan Kawasmeh, 44, wanted to join in the widespread celebrations of the kidnapping, which have been taking place all over the Gaza Strip since the story came to light on Friday, but is troubled by the prospect of serving the chocolate confection. Such a decision, he says, weighs heavily on his conscience, it is fraught with humanitarian implications, and he feels profound concern for other humans.

“The use of chocolate relies heavily on what amounts to slave labor,” lamented Kawasmeh. “I don’t know exactly what to do, because I find the exploitation of children for economic or political ends troubling,” he said. “I’m almost out of stock of my other sweets, but this occasion demands some celebration.” Cacao plants are often cultivated with the use of child or forced labor, especially in Africa, he explained, and supporting enterprises that abuse the civil rights of minors is something he is reluctant to endorse.

“If I had plain old sucking candies in stock I could celebrate the capture of those Zionist children easily, but I can’t use my machinery right now,” he continued, because Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, refuses to pay for Israeli electricity so it can claim that the intermittent power outages, which adversely affect two million Palestinians, are Israel’s fault.

Kawasmeh views the blitheness with which other Palestinians are distributing sweets to celebrate the kidnapping with a sense of envy. “I used to be unaware of what went into producing what I make and sell,” he said, wistfully. “But as I looked into suppliers for my ingredients I discovered just how difficult it can be to obtain things without the taint of inhumanity in today’s world. Others might prefer ignorance, but I just can’t bring myself to seek advantage of any sort specifically by harming someone else.”

At press time, Kawasmeh had managed to produce a batch of baklava, and was distributing it to passers by with a clear conscience.