An inside look at a terrorist group's summer camp for kids

While the idea of summer camps may bring to mind roasting S'mores and swimming exercises, Palestinian youth living under Hamas have a very different experience.

Hamas, the Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organization that's designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the US,  hosts annual youth camps that focus on military-style training. These camps are typically held from July 25 to August 1 near the Gaza Strip and have anywhere between 15,000 to 25,000 students.

Children are often used by Hamas in their campaign against Israel — according to Al-Monitor, Hamas’ official charter emphasizes the necessity to educate the future generation, who will take part in forthcoming military missions for the liberation of Palestine.

Although Hamas hosts these training camps, they've also condemned attacks using children. After three youths were killed during a failed suicide mission in 2002, the organization called it a "national catastrophe" and issued a statement urging leaders to "remember that their lives are precious and should not be sacrificed."

Regardless of whether or not that statement was genuine, photos show that the youth summer camps are still being conducted in the highly volatile region.

Here's an inside look into Hamas' summer youth camps:

Palestinian youths attended a military exercise during a summer camp organized by The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on August 11, 2005 at an refugee camp from the Gaza Strip.

Abid Katib/Getty Images

Palestinian youths practice their marching during a scouting summer camp next to the border between Egypt and Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, June 19, 2013.

Adel Hana/AP

The camp's drills often include weapons training and IDF kidnapping simulations.

Bernat Armangue/AP

Source: The Times of Israel

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