GAZA CITY, Palestine
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian resistance faction Hamas, has established new camps in the Gaza Strip with the aim of training 25,000 new fighters, according to a statement issued by the group on Saturday.
In its statement, Al-Qassam said the camps had been set up with the aim of “training personnel so as to be able and ready to fulfill our obligation to wage the battle for liberation [against Israel].”
According to the statement, male trainees – whose ages vary from 15 to 60 years old – will be taught military tactics, civil defense and first aid, along with Islamic morals and values.
It is the third consecutive year that Al-Qassam has announced the establishment of military camps for the purpose of training fresh recruits.
Last year, some 17,000 Palestinians – mostly from the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip – reportedly underwent training at camps set up by the resistance group.
