During the summer of 2021, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza organized military-style summer camps for teens. Al-Manar TV’s report on June 27, 2021, showcased teens participating in the “Pioneers of Liberation” summer camp run by Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades. The camp involved various military training activities and weapon handling. One camper expressed his motivation to join the camp as a way to follow in the footsteps of his late father, a “martyred commander.”
Similarly, footage from Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades’ “Sword of Jerusalem” summer camp was featured, demonstrating military training exercises. In a video posted on the Al-Qassam website on June 27, children were seen chanting slogans in support of Muhammad Deif, a prominent Hamas leader. They also formed the words “Sword of Jerusalem” during a foot drill.
Another video from Amad Media, dated June 26, 2021, included statements from Abu Obaida, the commander of the “Pioneers of Liberation” summer camp in Eastern Gaza. Dressed in military attire, he discussed the camp’s objectives, which included instilling trust in Allah and reinforcing national and Islamic values. He also mentioned efforts to protect campers from what he termed as “the traps that the enemy is trying to set for them.”
These reports and videos provide insight into the nature of these summer camps, highlighting their focus on military training and indoctrination, distinct from typical recreational or educational summer camps.
© MEMRI TV
