GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — It is now obvious that since the end of the recent war in the Gaza Strip, Hamas' military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has been carrying out popular action and field activities instead of Hamas’ political wing, which had handled direct communication with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip over the years. Hamas’ military wing took it upon itself to organize military training camps for boys and young men dubbed the “vanguards of liberation camps” during the students’ midterm break in January and during their summer vacation in August.

Almost daily in most regions in the Gaza Strip, al-Qassam Brigades militants perform military parades at various times over the day and the night. Masked militants hold light weapons and some of them even hold miniature versions and even samples of missiles and aircraft that al-Qassam Brigades claim to have developed and manufactured locally and used in their confrontation with Israel.

A well-informed source in the Hamas leadership confirmed to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that al-Qassam Brigades decided to take over communication with the public from Hamas’ political wing, using various field activities — including military parades and training camps — to show off their capabilities.

The source told Al-Monitor, “Hamas made a decision to put its military wing at the forefront and to entrust it with communication with the public instead of its political wing in order to promote the movement’s politics and popularity in the Palestinian street. Al-Qassam Brigades are Hamas' most prominent organization and are not criticized by the public, like Hamas’ political wing.”