Gaza's 'Jihadi Janes': Militants train burka women to battle Israel

The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), a coalition of a number of armed Palestinian groups, is training Gazan women in the 'art of war'.

New footage, aired by Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV in Lebanon, portrays women training in the use of weapons and explosive devices in the Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades, the military wing of the PRC.

Through its military wing, the PRC is believed to be the third strongest faction active in the Gaza Strip, after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Israel and the United States designate the coalition as a terrorist organisation.

In the two and a half minute report, women wearing black burkas are described as learning the "art of war" at "theoretical and practical levels in order to become one day mujahid women fighting the (Israeli) occupation".

After portraying a woman activating a machine gun, the video shows a large groupwalking through bushes, carrying automatic weapons and rocket launchers.

"Theoretical training is vital before going out into the field," says a black-clad student. "If you go out into the field without theoretical training, the result will be failure."

She goes on explaining she and other women receive training in bearing arms, "both light and heavy" and planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

"Our training focuses on women, without men," she adds.

Another women, who explains her husband is also part of the Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades, says she has become an instructor to other women.

The report says that some 40 women "graduated" from the war training after the last Gaza war - Israel's anti-terrorism Operation Protective Edge in Gaza last summer. Another 40 are currently in training.

An off-camera commentary by an Al-Manar TV female reporter adds: "What is amazing is that mothers are joining the Jihad. They leave their children for many long hours. They focus their utmost attention on the work at hand, but then return to their marital duties the moment they leave the field."

The report was initially aired on February 20, 2015, and was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

Its has been reported that militias such as the PRC in Gaza have also recruited children to their ranks.

MEMRI released a video earlier this month which shows footage from a youth camp organized by the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's so-called military wing.

The video shows young cadets demonstrating military skills, such as use of weapons.

A clip released by MEMRI last year also shows a televised graduation ceremony for a similar Hamas youth camp in Gaza.