Mick Hartley

The graduation ceremony of a Hamas-run paramilitary training program in Gaza high schools, posted online by Khabar Press. For the fifth consecutive year, some 20,000-40,000 students attended the program, in which students learn urban and commando warfare and train in the use of various types of weapons:

"As part of their military training the students learn to use all types of military equipment. They receive training in commando and urban warfare, as well as in the storming of places and in VIP protection. 

This message is directed exclusively at our loathsome enemy, who should realise that what was taken by force will be regained only by force. Allah willing, this slogan will be translated into action. Palestine and the Arab and Islamic nation will regain their time-honoured glory."

Whole generations of Palestinians raised to hate Israel, and training for its destruction…does any other country face this kind of existential threat on its doorstep?

In return the "loathsome" Israelis offer to build a new airport, or set up industrial zones and the like in Gaza, if only Hamas would renounce its terror tactics. The Palestinians are unable to manage these kinds of projects themselves, of course, since their economy and education, as we see, is largely aimed at militarisation and the killing of Jews.

Fortunately they're able to keep up their lifestyle thanks to the billions of dollars flooding in from UNWRA - financed almost entirely by the US and Europe. It's the largest UN agency, employing over 30,000 staff, and the only one dedicated to a single group of refugees. Though by now the original 650,000 or so refugees from 1948 have grown to 5 million or more.

No Arab nation is interested in helping them. They're too valuable as they are – a permanent living growing thorn in Israel's side, and, despite all that Arab oil money, financed solely by the West. Perfect.