Hamas militants have handed out branded “gift bags” to the three Israeli hostages that were released on Sunday night, in what appeared to be a carefully orchestrated propaganda display.
The bags, bearing the logo of Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, were given to Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari as they entered a Red Cross SUV in Gaza City.
Each hostage received the bag alongside a formal “release decision” certificate written in both Hebrew and Arabic.
A family representative told CNN that Gonen’s bag contained a certificate, necklace and photographs, which were subsequently confiscated by Israel’s Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet).
Each hostage received the bag alongside a formal “release decision” certificate written in both Hebrew and Arabic
Reuters
Israeli media reported that the photographs showed the women during their time in captivity.
The Israel Defense Forces later released footage of the three women carrying the bags, though the Qassam Brigades’ logo had been blurred out.
The handover process included formal documentation, with a Red Cross representative required to sign an Arabic document acknowledging receipt of the “Israeli prisoners” from Hamas’s military wing.
At Gaza City’s Al Saraya Junction, Hamas staged a show of force with a row of Qassam militants lining the street.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Gaza ceasefire begins after Hamas release names of three hostages including British-Israeli
- ‘Won’t move forward!’ Netanyahu HALTS Gaza ceasefire until Hamas releases list of first freed hostages
- Watch: Hundreds of armed baclava-clad Hamas fighters jeer and torment hostage during handover to Red Cross
A family representative said that their bags contained a certificate, necklace and photographs
Reuters
The gathering appeared designed to send a message to the Israeli public, whose government has vowed to destroy the militant group.
The orchestrated release appeared to be an attempt by Hamas to present itself as an undefeated, legitimate governing authority with formal protocols, even for civilians taken forcibly from their homes.
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, acknowledged that Israel “hadn’t met the objective” of dismantling Hamas’s military and government structure.
“We had an advancement,” Saar said, in what appeared to be a measured assessment of Israel’s progress against the militant group.
The broader implications of Hamas’s display were highlighted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent assessment of the group’s strength.
“We assess that Hamas has recruited almost as many new militants as it has lost. That is a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war,” Blinken said.