Hamas Indoctrination Pervades Gaza's Education System, Investigation Reveals

An investigation has revealed that Hamas has systematically used Gaza's education system to indoctrinate children into its jihadist ideology since gaining control in 2007. Testimonies from ordinary Gazans and analysis of educational materials indicate a pervasive 'culture of death' that extends to schools, mosques, and summer camps, with children identified as the primary victims.

One account from a 29-year-old mother, Shireen (not her real name), describes how her son, not yet ten years old, returned from a mosque reciting verses about martyrdom and receiving houris in paradise. Fearing the spread of extremist ideology, she began teaching him at home, eschewing the mosque's curriculum which she states teaches 'terrorism, killing and the path of death,' including extreme racism and how to fight Jews.

Another neighbor's 15-year-old son, influenced by mosque education, was reportedly given a weapon and approached the Israeli border, where he was killed by an Israeli soldier. Amin Abed, 40, who fled Gaza for the UAE, detailed how Hamas adapted the existing curriculum to instill its extremist ideas and organizational ideology. He noted that the 'Al-Futuwwa' program, introduced in 2012/13 for teenage boys, provided weekly military-style instruction. This program, involving instructors from Hamas-controlled security services, familiarized pupils with weapons and carried the core message that 'death is our highest aspiration in Gaza.' Abed claims this created a segment of society that glorified death and jihad.

Hamza Howidy, 28, who escaped Gaza after being tortured for opposing Hamas, experienced firsthand the group's influence at a Hamas-run school. He described lessons that fostered hostility towards Israel and promoted 'resistance,' with teachers described as radical and secular subjects banned. The school's anthem, he recalled, was 'Jihad is our path, death is our dream.'

Analysis of Palestinian school textbooks, compiled by the Israeli NGO IMPACT-se, highlights the extent of this indoctrination. A Grade 8 Arabic textbook reportedly uses passages about suicide bombers and instructs pupils to 'not forget the image of burned Jews.' A Grade 5 Islamic Education textbook recounts a story of a woman stabbing a Jewish man, urging pupils to emulate such actions.

These textbooks are published by the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas's continued use of them in its schools has been heavily criticized. IMPACT-se has also criticized the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which previously ran hundreds of schools in Gaza, for allegedly overlooking radicalization and antisemitism within its education system, often funded by Western governments. The UK, along with the US, Italy, Canada, and Australia, suspended UNRWA funding following allegations of employee involvement in the October 7th attacks. The Labour government, however, later ended this suspension by pledging significant funds to the UN body.

Despite the pervasive influence of Hamas, some Gazans are taking risks to counter this trend. In eastern Rafah, an anti-Hamas group established a school for approximately 130 displaced children, focusing on equality, freedom, and coexistence. Educators and parents are making their own efforts to change how children are taught, fearing the long-term consequences of Hamas's ideology. Experts suggest that Gaza must be opened up to the world, with centers for ideological indoctrination dismantled and replaced by institutions promoting art, entertainment, and music. International bodies, including the Board of Peace chaired by Donald Trump, are expected to play a role in Gaza's post-war transition, with an emphasis on deradicalization and curriculum reform. The success of these efforts to prevent future violence will depend on dismantling Hamas's ideological control over education.