On Wednesday, the Israeli Defence Forces revealed evidence showing that Hamas indoctrinates children in the Gaza Strip and incites them to terrorist activity. From a young age, children are educated to hate Israel and Jews. In schools, youth movements, and at camps, children undergo both theoretical and practical military training.
In routine times, Hamas operates summer camps where children learn to shoot weapons, storm through tunnels, fight against tanks and even kidnap soldiers. These camps are early stages of training for Hamas’ military wing. Based on intelligence, it is estimated that a significant number of minors are active in the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations. Even during the war, Hamas uses minors for various tasks, for example sending children to deliver both messages and ammunition.
Children getting trained in Hamas’ mock tunnel
The IDF previously disclosed the investigation of a company commander in the Hamas ‘Zeytoun’ Battalion, in which he detailed the terrorist organization’s fighting doctrine. Based on this doctrine, children are used to transfer ammunition with the understanding that the IDF will not harm them due to the IDF’s compliance with international law. One of the examples of this is the transfer of explosives in vegetable bags by children in Gaza. A further example is the sending of children to combat zones after attacks in order to assess the damage and report it to the terrorists who are hiding in shelters.
A certificate of appreciation for a child in Hamas Youth Movement
