Hamas Encourages Young Children To Visit Weapon Exhibitions In Gaza

During the recent holiday of Eid Al-Adha, Hamas' military wing, the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, invited the public to visit open-air exhibitions of weapons and military gear in the Gaza Strip "and take pictures with the weapons as souvenirs." The movement especially encouraged bringing children to the exhibitions in order to instill "the culture of resistance" in the younger generation. Manned by masked Al-Qassam fighters, the exhibitions showcased a wide range of weapons and gear, from machine guns and mortars to anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles,  rockets and drones. Many Gazan families indeed visited the exhibitions with their children and took pictures.

This is not the first time Hamas has held such exhibitions in Gaza and invited families to attend.[1]

Children at Hamas' weapons exhibition in Gaza (t.me/shamal_online1, July 1, 2023)

The following are details about the recent exhibitions and pictures of them:

Hamas Military Wing: Take Selfies With Our Weapons As A Souvenir For Yourself And Your Kids

The ad announcing the exhibitions was produced by  Hamas' "Home Front Headquarters"[2] and posted ahead of the holiday on Hamas-affiliated social media pages. The exhibitions themselves took place during the holiday in three public squares in the Gaza Strip.[3] The ad said: "The Home Front Headquarters of [Hamas' military wing], the Martyr 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, invites you to visit the 'resistance souvenir picture' photo areas. Take a souvenir picture of yourself and your kids with the many weapons manufactured by the Al-Qassam [Brigades] military industry: rockets, anti-aircraft weapons, aircraft, machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank [weapons] and explosive charges." The ad, bearing the logos of the Al-Qassam Brigades and the Home Front Headquarters, featured pictures of weapons and a Hamas fighter aiming an anti-tank missile, against the background of the Al-Aqsa mosque. It also notes that visiting the exhibitions is an act of "supporting the resistance."[4]    

Hamas Official: The Exhibitions Are Safe, And Are Aimed At Strengthening The "Culture Of Resistance" In The Younger Generation

The exhibitions were opened on June 30, 2023 by Hamas officials, including Suheil Al-Hindi and Mushir Al-Masri, who inaugurated the exhibition in the north of the strip. The exhibition activities were conducted by masked Al-Qassam fighters. In statements to the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel, "Abu Muhammad," an operative of the Home Front Headquarters, explained that the exhibitions were "completely safe"[5] and were meant to "acquaint the public and the supporters of the resistance with some of its military arsenal." He added that most of the weapons on show were designed by "the Al-Qassam Brigade engineers" and that the exhibitions "help strengthen the culture of resistance in the Palestinian public, and especially in the younger generation."  He noted that entire families were attending the exhibitions, which "shows that the people are united around the option of resistance and that they trust the resistance to defend [the Palestinians'] honor and land and the means of liberating Palestine."[6]  

Hamas officials shared pictures of the exhibitions on social media. Mushir Al-Masri, for example, posted pictures of the opening of the exhibition in the north of the Strip, which took place "with extensive popular participation."[7]

Gazans Visit The Exhibitions With Their Young Children

Many Gazans indeed visited the exhibitions with their young children, who posed for pictures with the weapons and heard explanations about their use:   

Twitter.com/Alrisala94, June 30, 2023

Twitter.com/yaseenizeddeen, July 1, 2023

Twitter.com/salehQatarawi4, June 30, 2023

Shehabnews.com, June 30, 2023

Twitter.com/salehQatrawi4, twitter.com/Ahmed20282608, July 1, 2023

Alresalah.ps, June 30, 2023

Aljazeera.net, July 1, 2023