Hamas began recruiting youth for its military wing’s summer camp, which is located in the Gaza Strip, in June, MEMRI reported last week:
On June 12, 2015, Hamas' daily Filastin announced that registration for the Liberation Pioneers camps was beginning. It stated: "The martyr 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has opened registration for the Liberation Pioneers military camps throughout Gaza. The Brigades have called to register via special bulletin boards placed in mosques and public places around Gaza, and stated that registration would commence on Saturday, June 13."
"The camps are divided into four groups: age 15-17, age 18-25, age 25 and over, and one group for graduates of previous [camp] sessions. The Al-Qassam Brigades stressed that the camps aim to "create a nucleus for the future liberation project," and will include "sermons, displays of courage, training in military skills, live fire exercises, field training, civil defense classes and first aid."
Leaflets circulated by the Al-Qassam Brigades announcing the opening of registration for the summer camps featured the camps' anthem:
"The Liberation Pioneers camps,
"On the path of resistance we march until liberation,
"Our eyes turned towards the captive Al-Aqsa [mosque],
"We have not forgotten our prisoners, the dawn of their freedom is near,
"The return to our country is a right we will not relinquish,
"We [come] from our people and return to it, our blood is sacrificed for young and old."
The report also said activists recruiting children to the camp appear in full military wear, armed and faces covered. The graduation ceremony from the camp is a large-scale event, attended by Hamas leadership, according to MEMRI.