'Name of shop is Hitler and I like him because he was the most anti Jewish person'
Clothing store in Gaza displays merchandise on masked mannequins, some with knives taped to their hands.
By REUTERS'Hitler 2' clothing store in Gaza uses conflict to promote sales
In Gaza City, a clothing shop whose owner refuses to speak on camera, has been recently displaying clothes for sale on mannequins that are masked and have knives taped to their hands.The knife carrying mannequins are designed to make ties with the latest wave of violence in the West Bank and Israel that has seen many Palestinian attackers using knives to attack Israeli soldiers and civilians.Young Palestinians who visited the shop told Reuters they were drawn to the place as a symbol of their solidarity with what they termed 'the current intifada', meaning uprising."I am looking for clothes to buy, this shop attracted me because it shows the symbol of the intifada (uprising) in the West Bank. This is in support with our people in the West Bank, using the knife, mask and koufeyeh (Palestinian black and white scarf) these are nice things to attract people, it is nice and unique," said 19 year old Wissam Ashraf, as he was scrutinizing a knife holding mannequin.The current wave of violence has been often fueled by incitement in the form of writing or visuals that are floating on Palestinian social media. This store has gained much of its fame from its Facebook page where pictures of the mannequins are on display."I saw an advertisement on Facebook so I wanted to pass by the shop because of the knife, the koufeyeh and the mask are now symbols for intifada of Al-Aqsa. I want to buy from this shop I like the idea as it is supporting our people in Jerusalem and the West Bank, I like the idea," added 20 year old Immad Mharib.The name 'Hitler 2' has also attracted attention, which seems to raise the number of visitors to the clothing store."The name of the shop is 'Hitler' and I like him because he was the the most anti Jewish person. They have done us wrong, they took our rights in this land and they left us with nothing. It is better for us now to go and die, we are living like the dead. I like the clothes and the name, it is fantastic," said 20 year old Hijaz Abu Shanab.After six weeks in which Palestinians have killed 11 Israelis in stabbings, shootings and other violence, and Israeli forces have shot dead 68 Palestinians, including 41 alleged attackers, both sides accuse the other of incitement.While there are some signs of the violence dying down, there is little let up in the mutual feelings of anger and hatred.
In Gaza, the Islamist group Hamas, which controls the territory, has openly encouraged violence, publishing videos online that urge Palestinians to join a new "knife intifada", or uprising, against Israel.