Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigade fighters, child recruits emerge to claim leadership in Gaza | watch

Appearance of fighters on the streets is aimed to demonstrate strength to Israel, rivals in the Palestinian Authority and residents of Gaza

Ahmed Abd al-Salam/The Media Line|
A group of fighters from the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, on Sunday, January 19, 2025, emerged from their tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip and made an open appearance on the streets of Deir al-Balah, where they interacted with local children, many of whom are reportedly undergoing training as recruits for the armed group.
In an exclusive video obtained by The Media Line, young boys were seen posing with rocket launchers and other weapons as parents encouraged them to take souvenir photographs. Families attended the event in large numbers.
2 View gallery
מחבלי חמאס מתפרסים ברחובות רצועת עזה לאחר נסיגת צה"ל
מחבלי חמאס מתפרסים ברחובות רצועת עזה לאחר נסיגת צה"ל
Armed Hamas terrorists on the streets of Gaza
Earlier the same day, as the newly agreed-upon ceasefire with Israel took effect, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigade forces held a public parade in Gaza City showcasing their strength.
2 View gallery
מחבלי חמאס מתפרסים ברחובות רצועת עזה לאחר נסיגת צה"ל
מחבלי חמאס מתפרסים ברחובות רצועת עזה לאחר נסיגת צה"ל
Armed Hamas terrorists on the streets of Gaza
During the event, the fighters, traveling in white Toyota pickup trucks, displayed a range of weapons, including locally manufactured missiles, drones, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and Russian-made Kornet missiles.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
The purpose of the fighters’ unusual public appearance, above ground and in uniform, was to convey three key messages. To Israel and the international community, they aimed to demonstrate that they remain strong and undefeated. To the Palestinian Authority and other critics who accused them of provoking the war, they sent a message of readiness to govern Gaza. Finally, to the people of Gaza, they sought to assert control over local markets and public spaces, emphasizing their dominance in the region.
  • The story is written by Ahmed abd al-Salam and reprinted with permission from The Media Line.
<< Follow Ynetnews on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Telegram >>
Comments
The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
""