Among events marking the 35th anniversary of its founding, Hamas held an arms exhibition on December 9, 2022 showcasing locally manufactured weapons. The exhibition, at the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, presents the various weapons used by the movement's military wing, the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades. The opening ceremony was attended by senior Hamas officials Muhammad Abu 'Askar and Suheil Al-Hindi, armed and masked Hamas commanders and operatives, and members of the Hamas military wing, in addition to many Palestinian civilians, including children.
Hamas spokesman 'Abd Al-Latif Al-Qanou' explained that the exhibition "presents the story of the development of the means of resistance during the 35 years of the movement's existence, starting with knives, pistols, and old rifles, and including rockets and drones."[1]
The exhibition reviews the historical development of Hamas's weapons manufacturing, from IEDs and mortars to the range of models of rockets and drones, including S50 and M75 rockets and Shehab and Ababeel drones.
According to senior Hamas official Muhammad Abu 'Askar, the exhibition's aim was "to present to the Palestinian generations the military industry created by the Al-Qassam Brigades, and the stages of its development from the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000 to the present day." He added: "What you see today was created with the blood of the martyrs and the sweat of the fighters. This accumulation of power, in all its forms, constitutes preparedness for a future decisive campaign against the Israeli occupation."[2]
The following are photos from the Hamas weapons exhibition at the Jabalia refugee camp:
Senior Hamas members Suheil Al-Hindi and Muhammad Abu 'Askar and Hamas spokesman 'Abd Al-Latif Al-Qanou' at the arms exhibition (Source: Hamas.ps, December 9, 2022)
Boys pose with weapons at the Hamas arms exhibition (Source: Safa.ps; T.me/shamal_online1, December 9, 2022)
Grenades, IEDs, rockets and drones at the Hamas arms exhibition (Source: Facebook.com/AJA.Palestine, December 8, 2022)
Rockets and drones at the Hamas arms exhibition (Source: Aa.com.tr, December 9, 2022; Aljazeera.net, December 10, 2022)
