Hamas recruiting children to fight Israel

A number of Arabic sites have reported over the past few days that Hamas had put up fliers and posters in mosques calling on young people to join a "popular army" in the Gaza Strip, in preparation for any future war with Israel.

The Qassam Brigades said in a declaration that it will train the youths on the use of "different light weapons and some heavy weapons, such as mortars, and in the context of preparing for the defense of the Palestinian people in any future confrontation with Israel."

A source in the Al-Qassam Brigades told the Anatolian News Agency that the training began on Sunday and claimed thousands of young people belonged to the People's Army.

Today, Hamas sort of denied the story, saying the training was merely "in order to educate and interest the next generation and entrench in them a culture of resistance."

(h/t Bob Knot)