Islamic law prohibits the killing of women and children “unless they are fighting against the Muslims” (‘Umdat al-Salik o9.10, cf. al-Mawardi, al-Akham as-Sultaniyyah, 4.2).
By Hoda Osman and Maddy Sauer for ABC’s The Blotter (thanks to Hot Air):
The Egyptian militant who leads the group he calls “Al Qaeda in Egypt” has called for his followers to launch attacks in Egypt to “strike against all Zionist-Crusader targets” there, including women and children.
The statement of Mohammed Khalil al Hakayma, who is wanted by the United States, is dated yesterday and has been posted on numerous jihadi Web sites.
“Rise up and pluck out the Zionist presence in Egypt,” he says. “Rise up and inflame a war on them everywhere. Do not differentiate between a military and a civilian person. As they struck against our women and children, we will kill their women and children.”
This idea of tit-for-tat retaliation is based on Qur’an 42:40: “The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree)…” (See also 2:178 and 5:45).