The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas organized the first exhibition of its arsenal in Gaza on Friday, June 30. Many civilians, including children, were invited to pose among the weapons. In this way, Hamas hopes to enhance its image among the population of a territory plagued by unemployment and poverty, over which it reigns undivided.
The armed wing of Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas has put its weapons on public display for the first time, drawing hundreds of Palestinians including children brandishing rocket launchers for selfies.
Dressed in black balaclavas and tactical camouflage suits, members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades mingled with children and women at the exhibition in Gaza City’s Unknown Soldier’s Square.
The event was the first at which Hamas has allowed the public to take photos of weapons.
It follows the latest surge in worsening Israeli-Palestinian violence, which cost 16 Palestinian and four Israeli lives in the occupied West Bank over six days in late June.
In May, militant groups in Gaza and Israel traded cross-border fire for five days, killing 34 Palestinians, among them six commanders of the Islamic Jihad, fighters from other Palestinian armed groups and civilians including children. One Israeli woman died.
Among the Hamas weapons on display in Gaza City on Friday were a range of locally manufactured missiles, “Shihab” drones, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and Russian-made “Kornet” missiles.
Exhibitions are also scheduled to take place on Saturday in the north and centre of the Gaza Strip, where people are normally forbidden to approach and photograph military sites.
At the entrance to the Gaza City exhibition a banner welcomed visitors, some of whom had come with their families and children, an AFP correspondent said.
Dozens of uniformed Al-Qassam Brigades members were on hand.
Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by the United States, Australia, Britain, Israel and the European Union.
Around 2.3 million Palestinians live in the impoverished Gaza Strip which has been under a crippling Israeli-led blockade since Hamas seized power in 2007.
Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have fought several wars since.
Malo Pinatel, with AFP
