GAZA CITY — A leading Palestinian militia has been training women to become suicide bombers.

Islamic Jihad said it has conducted courses to instruct women to blow themselves up as part of a defense of the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported. The Iranian-sponsored Jihad said the women would range from teenagers to the elderly.

"Women have greater access and are treated much more gently than men," a Jihad operative said. "We seek to take advantage of this."

In August 2008, Jihad held a course for about 20 women in suicide bombing. The women were shown how to wear and operate suicide vests as well as detonate car bombs.

Palestinians have sought to use women in operations against Israel from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said many of the women are blackmailed into agreeing to serve as bombers.

In 2006, a 57-year-old grandmother detonated her explosive belt in the northern Gaza Strip and injured three Israeli soldiers. Jihad has touted the woman, Fatma Al Najar, as the model for women suicide attackers.

"We see women playing a significant role in resisting any Israeli invasion," the operative said.

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