A young boy carries an automatic rifle that was put around his neck at a pro-Yasser Arafat rally in Gaza City, Saturday Sept. 13, 2003. Hundreds of people including gunmen took to the streets to support the Palestinian leader. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

What a curious caption. “…was put around his neck?” Is the AP trying to make excuses for this sickening abuse of children? (Hat tip: K.)

A young Palestinian holds a gun in the streets of Gaza city during a rally supporting President Yasser Arafat in the Gaza Strip September 13, 2003.

A young Palestinian supporter of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat holds a toy gun during a rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah, September13, 2003. A defiant Arafat on Saturday condemned an Israeli threat to exile him as a bid to eradicate Palestinian independence, and appealed for international intervention. REUTERS/Ammar Awad