At a summer camp, Palestinian kids and youth are greeted by a giant mural of a skeleton holding a bloody knife and a bomb with a lit fuse.
By Rachel Avraham
According to a recent report published by Palestinian Media Watch, ‘’At a summer camp, Palestinian kids and youth are greeted by a giant mural of a skeleton holding a bloody knife and a bomb with a lit fuse. The skeleton is wearing a bandana in the colors of the Palestinian flag, and appears on one of the walls surrounding the football field where the kids spend part of the summer camp.’’ The mural reads; ‘’ Rayo is in favor of the resistance.”
Palestinian Media Watch noted, ‘’This mural is at a summer camp of the Lajee Center, an NGO at the Aida refugee camp north of Bethlehem, which “is supported by the Mennonite Central Committee.” [Lajee Center, Facebook page, July 5, 2025]. As Palestinian Media Watch has documented for decades, the word “resistance” is a Palestinian euphemism for terror against Israel. “Rayo” refers to the Spanish football club Rayo Vallecano. The skeleton is the logo of the Bukaneros, a politically inclined far left-wing support group of Rayo Vallecano:’”
According to the report, ‘’ A similar message condoning terror is conveyed by a skull possibly symbolizing death (to Israel), draped in a keffiyeh (Arab headdress), who watches from another wall as kids enjoy the summer camp activities. Other huge wall paintings around the football field show masked rock throwers and text in English and Arabic that also encourages terror.’’
Palestinian Media Watch noted, “In its own words, the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) which supports the Palestinian NGO running the summer camp, is “a global, nonprofit organization that strives to share God’s love and compassion for all through relief, development and peacebuilding,” and strives “to make peace part of everything we do.” The murderous skeleton teaching terror against Israel to Palestinian kids at the summer camp hardly fits the ideology of the Christian principles guiding MCC.”
The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) website proclaims, ‘’For MCC, peace is not just a wish. It’s our work. It’s a conviction rooted in our faith and Anabaptist convictions. With conflict on the rise around the globe, peacebuilding skills are critical. We want to promote reconciliation, speak out against injustice and build resilience through trauma healing. All over the world, MCC partners with local communities and organizations to build a brighter, more peaceful future.”
According to Palestinian Media Watch, ‘’ At the camp, the instructors and the participating children are all wearing shirts with MCC’s name and logo on the sleeve. Text on the front says “We’re here to stay” while “1948” is written on the back, a reference to the “right of return” to “Palestine” of “1948” – an expression of the Palestinian desire to eliminate the State of Israel.’’
Palestinian Media Watch concluded, ‘’Lajee Center states on its website that it is “a community-based grassroots creative cultural center,” and that it is independent of the PA. Regarding its “ideology,” Lajee Center explains that it “works in full support of all national, human, and moral rights without exception.” However, the center also states that “much of our project work focuses in some way on the inalienable ‘Right of Return’ for all refugees as stipulated in United Nations resolution number 194,” thereby expressing support for flooding Israel with refugees and consequently eliminating Israel as a Jewish state. Moreover, Lajee Center supports the BDS campaign against Israel. While Lajee Center takes pride in its ties with foreign football fans and the “breaking down of barriers,” this ideal seems to not include Israel given the messages encouraging terror on the Lajee Celtic Football Academy walls.”
Photo from Palestinian Media Watch: https://palwatch.org/page/37220
