The mood in the house was tense, with both brothers nervous about the possible repercussions for their village after the morning's hostilities, and they kept a keen eye on the screen as they watched footage of the bloody confrontation being broadcast. For my benefit, the older brother tuned to the English version of al-Aqsa TV, a channel launched by Hamas in 2006 as part of its campaign to counter what it saw as Israeli propaganda in the western media.

"Zionist colonisers launched a missile [at a Palestinian town]", announced the stony-faced presenter as he reported on the settlers' rocket attack. Moving on, he informed viewers of plans for "the Zionist colony of Har Homa to expand", before relaying news that "Zionist occupying forces wounded seven in Nilin". Suitably gory images of injured Palestinians were beamed out in accompaniment, and we watched in silence as the unending litany of injustices was recounted in the newsreader's sombre tones.