Arabic translation:
A steadfast people
Curator's note:
In its (mis)interpretation of this poster the IDF website states that:
1) Hamas is calling on the people to become human shields
2) Hamas uses such posters to encourage Palestinians to become heroes/marytrs by acting as human shields
Both of these assertions are incorrect: Hamas did not authorize, commission, print, design or distribute this poster
This poster has nothing to do with Hamas at all
Rather, it is an homage to the Palestinians of Gaza and the figures on the roofs represent all Palestinians, everywhere, standing in solidarity with their co-nationalists under attack in Gaza
The point of the poster, released during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and missed entirely by the IDF is that the Palestinian people remain unintimidated by Israel and its military
This is indicated in the poster by showing Palestinians on the roofs of homes and office buildings - not only in Gaza but throughout Palestine - to telegraph to the Palestinians of Gaza that they are not alone
This poster is a re-affirmation of the Palestinian nationalist value of relentless steadfastness - (Arabic) sumud - a national-value-presented-individually in furtherance the idea not of permanent war but of perpetual resistance to occupation, exile and refugeehood
DJW
Click here to read the complete IDF text