On a military training site belonging to Al-Quds Brigades in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, 12-year-old Musaab, wearing camouflaged fatigues and his face painted for combat, carried a Kalashnikov assault rifle as he took position with other similarly garbed children behind some barbed wire. They were simulating an attack on an Israeli military outpost, aimed at kidnapping one of its soldiers. The assault was subsequently followed by cheers and praise to almighty God for the success of their “military operation.”

This exercise came as part of a military parade that concluded the weeklong “Generation of Faith” summer camp, which targeted school children ages 12 to 17, and was organized by Islamic Jihad and supervised by its Al-Quds Brigades' military wing.

Musaab explained that, throughout the duration of the camp, they were trained to fire machine guns, assault military positions, kidnap soldiers, plant land mines, administer first aid, swim and maintain their physical fitness.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, he said, “I attended the summer camp with my 16-year-old brother Atieh because I believe in the importance of military training and in preparing myself to confront the enemy and defend the homeland. I await the moment when I will be able to fight in God’s name.”