'Israeli' facility lets children play ‘terrorist hunters' in simulated Palestinian village

A controversial "Israeli" facility, dubbed Fauda Base, is facing backlash after reports emerged that it allows children as young as six to engage in simulated undercover military operations, including dressing up as "terrorists" and conducting mock raids on a fabricated Palestinian village.

The center, located in central "Israel", takes its name from the hit Netflix series Fauda, which dramatizes the actions of an elite "Israeli" undercover unit known as mista'arvim. These units operate disguised as Palestinians, often carrying out lethal operations in the occupied West Bank. The facility is operated by veterans from such units in collaboration with the "Israeli" entertainment company YES, the producer of the series.

While the Fauda Base website claims its activities are designed for teens aged 15 and up (12 in its English version), an undercover report by HaMakom revealed that children as young as six have been permitted to participate in shooting simulations. However, the facility later denied this, stating that the minimum age for participants is 16.

The experience, marketed as a chance to "go undercover," offers visitors a hands-on glimpse into life as a covert operative. According to its promotional materials, participants engage in “a special operation and saving human lives,” while wearing gear associated with undercover forces—including mock firearms, military fatigues, and costumes resembling traditional Palestinian attire.

“What will you do when you hear them scream? Have you always dreamed of going undercover? Now’s your chance to know what it’s like to battle undercover,” the homepage reads.

Screencap from the Fauda Base website

Activities unfold in a fictional setting called “El Mahmoudiya,” featuring a market, restaurants, and buildings designed to simulate a Palestinian village. A separate "Bedouin village" experience is also offered, advertised as an "authentic" cultural retreat following the mission.

Visitors are assigned roles that include mista'arvim agents, “terrorists,” and civilians. According to HaMakom’s investigation, some participants darken their teeth and wear keffiyehs or fake beards to mimic Palestinians. The experience includes elements such as Krav Maga, urban combat training, and target shooting—though the facility insists all weapons are airsoft and no human targets are involved.

Despite criticism, Fauda Base operators claim the experience is apolitical and not meant to educate. “The activity at the Fauda Base is an experiential activity, not an educational one, full of love for the Arabic language and culture which is part of every good mista'arv person,” they said in a statement.

Critics argue the facility reinforces dangerous stereotypes and militarizes children in a deeply polarized context. The "Israeli" mista'arvim units have long been controversial; their operations have included assassinations in the middle of Palestinian cities and even deadly raids in hospitals, as occurred in Jenin last year.

The facility has hosted groups ranging from labor unions and youth organizations to local education departments—raising broader questions about the normalization of military-style training in "Israeli" civil society.