For the second time in per week, Hamas used the handover of hostages to the Purple Cross to point out it’s nonetheless a robust pressure ruling the Gaza Strip regardless of a 15-month struggle that has killed hundreds of fighters and civilians and diminished cities to rubble .
The give up of 4 hostages on Saturday was an much more blatant stunt than the one final Sunday, when three different hostages have been freed.
On Saturday, Hamas staged Palestine Sq. in central Gaza Metropolis, an space devastated by Israel’s bombardment and floor invasion. On the stage was a banner with a message in Hebrew: “Zionism won’t win.” A whole lot of masked, uniformed fighters and civilians gathered close by.
On the scene, Hamas held a signing ceremony between one among its members and a consultant of the Purple Cross, which later accepted the 4 hostages.
The hostages, all troopers who have been guarding a base on the Gaza border and have been kidnapped from there on October 7, 2023. through the Hamas-led assault on Israel, arrived on the sq. in a convoy of medium sport utility autos. They have been introduced on stage sporting navy uniforms, which appeared to emphasise that these hostages have been troopers, not civilians.
Fighters holding costly cameras adopted the hostages, presumably to make a video to be posted on social media.
On stage, the hostages smiled and waved to cheering and whistling onlookers as Hamas fighters with weapons stood by.
The Purple Cross stated it might not touch upon ongoing operations.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesman for Israel’s navy, stated Hamas had proved its “cruelty” throughout Saturday’s handover, which he described as a “cynical ceremony”.
Israeli officers stated Hamas compelled the hostages to smile and wave as a part of a propaganda effort to convey the message that the group handled its captives effectively. Nevertheless, former hostages have reported being mistreated, together with one who speak publicly about sexual abuse and tortured.
