Hamas summer camp finale drums up war rhetoric

Khan Younis, Palestinian Territories: Hamas held a closing ceremony in the Gaza Strip on Friday for a batch of the 120,000 boys and girls attending the militant group’s controversial summer schools.

The ceremony for some 1,000 students who took part in camps in the southern city of Khan Younis was framed as part of the group’s plan to continue its armed conflict with Israel.

Boys between 15 and 18 years of age were put through military drills at the week-long camp, including shooting with live ammunition and training in scouting skills.

Hamas official Ashraf Abu Zayed said the training came within the framework of “preparing for the liberation of Palestine”.

“We are trying to invest the younger generation and guide them towards the liberation project,” Abu Zayed told AFP, referring to armed struggle against Israel.

Such camps in the enclave of two million people have been heavily criticised by rights groups concerned with young people’s welfare.

The Israeli regime maintains that such camps are used to indoctrinate young people into Hamas’ militant ideology.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008 and the occupation force maintains a crippling blockade on the enclave.