It is believed that Muslim martyrs will be highly rewarded in the afterlife for their sacrifice and that they hold a special position in heavenly paradise. It is therefore not surprising that martyrdom is a central theme in jihadi visual propaganda. This specific image is a representation of a figure with his last will and testament. Such images almost always include a weapon, a Qur’an and other symbolic items. The combination of symbolic elements highlights the religious importance of martyrdom and its violent nature, while also facilitating the group’s efforts to emphasize its commitment to the cause. The figure is standing against a white background designed to evoke notions of death in a state of purity, grief and mourning, as white is the color of shrouds. The background contains pictures of fellow martyrs who chose to die in the path of jihad. Though the inscription is blurred in this image, the green headband on the figure likely identifies him as a member of Hamas or its military wing, ‘Izz al-Din al-Qassam.
