Hamas display weapons for first time in Gaza
Published: 04:07 PM,Jul 01,2023 | EDITED : 08:07 PM,Jul 01,2023
GAZA CITY: The armed wing of Gaza, Hamas, has put its weapons on public display for the first time, drawing hundreds of Palestinians brandishing rocket launchers for selfies.
Dressed in black balaclavas and tactical camouflage suits, members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades mingled with young men and women at the exhibition in Gaza City's Unknown Soldier's Square.
'Resistance is an image and a memory. Take souvenir photos with many of Al-Qassam's weapons,' the group said in an invitation on social media and posters in mosques.
The event was the first at which Hamas has allowed the public to take photos of weapons.
Among the Hamas weapons on display in Gaza City 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 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.
Dozens of uniformed Al-Qassam Brigades members were on hand.
'I came with my family to take photos with the weapons and reinforce the spirit of resistance in our children,' said Gaza resident Abu Mohammed Abu Shakian.
The exhibition is 'encouraging and means that the liberation of our land is near', added Shahadeh Dalou, who also came with his children.
Bassam Darwish, 58, said people wanted to show their support for the Al-Qassam Brigades.
'Everyone is happy and proud of the Al-Qassam exhibition. We are here because we're proud of the resistance,' he said.
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 groups in Gaza have fought several wars since. — AFP
Dressed in black balaclavas and tactical camouflage suits, members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades mingled with young men and women at the exhibition in Gaza City's Unknown Soldier's Square.
'Resistance is an image and a memory. Take souvenir photos with many of Al-Qassam's weapons,' the group said in an invitation on social media and posters in mosques.
The event was the first at which Hamas has allowed the public to take photos of weapons.
Among the Hamas weapons on display in Gaza City 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 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.
Dozens of uniformed Al-Qassam Brigades members were on hand.
'I came with my family to take photos with the weapons and reinforce the spirit of resistance in our children,' said Gaza resident Abu Mohammed Abu Shakian.
The exhibition is 'encouraging and means that the liberation of our land is near', added Shahadeh Dalou, who also came with his children.
Bassam Darwish, 58, said people wanted to show their support for the Al-Qassam Brigades.
'Everyone is happy and proud of the Al-Qassam exhibition. We are here because we're proud of the resistance,' he said.
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 groups in Gaza have fought several wars since. — AFP