The terrorist group Hamas is trying to train new generations of radicals by indoctrinating children and young people in the Gaza Strip. One method is summer camps.
A report published by the Middle East Media Research Institute (Memri), showed how this year’s event went. For example, around 100,000 children and young people took part in the activities in July.
This year the camps were named “Shield of Jerusalem.” According to Memri, the young people took part in courses on assembling, disassembling and using various weapons, including the AK47 rifle, rocketpropelled grenades, mortars and machine guns.
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“In some camps, Israeli flags were spread out on the ground for campers to step on,” Memri reported. “Terrorists who have carried out deadly attacks against Israelis are presented as role models to campers, and their portraits appear in the camps and during activities.”
The camps aim to build a younger generation
Hamas spokesman Abd AlLatif AlQanou said the summer camps aim to “build a younger generation” that is “deeply committed to national principles and the right to return and liberation.”
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“The name ‘Shield of Jerusalem’ underlines the centrality of the Jerusalem issue, which must remain in the consciousness of the younger generation,” the spokesman said. “We must prepare to liberate Jerusalem from the dirty usurping occupiers.”
The director of one of the camps, Muhammad Barhoum, said that young people indoctrinated in Hamas camps will form “the generation of liberation and victory.”
According to the Times of Israel, children at summer camps in recent years were taught how to stab and stone Israeli police officers.