Children dressed as Hamas militants and armed with mock weapons were among the Palestinians celebrating what they described as Hamas’ “victory of the resistance” over Israel after seven weeks of violence and bloodshed.
While the mainstream media neglected to publish photos of Hamas fighters as they launched more than 4,480 rockets at Israel in July and August, there are nevertheless news service photos of children in Gaza and the West Bank cities decked out in full Hamas regalia, celebrating the group classified by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization.
Here are images from Nablus in the West Bank:
A child wearing military fatigues and holding a mock weapon takes part in a rally gathering supporters of the Hamas Islamist movement, three days after a deal between Israel and Hamas over the 50-day war, Aug. 29, 2014 in the West Bank city of Nablus. Thousands of militants paraded in the besieged Gaza Strip, defiantly saying they would re-arm as prospects of a final deal on a long-term Israel-Hamas truce looked shaky. (Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty Images)
A Palestinian boy holds a toy gun during a celebration organized by Hamas in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)
In Gaza:
A Palestinian child wearing a Hamas headband flashes the sign of victory atop a car as people gather in the streets to celebrate after a deal reached between Hamas and Israel over a long-term end to seven weeks of fighting, Aug. 26, 2014 in Rafah in the southern of Gaza Strip. (Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images)