Hamas, in a video released by their armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has shown the release of an Israeli woman and her two children who were held captive by them.
The video, which surfaced on Wednesday night, was filmed from a considerable distance. It depicts a woman and her two children. In the footage, a few individuals can be seen walking a short distance away from them. They are identified as Hamas fighters. They guide the three towards an area near a boundary fence between Israel and Gaza. One of the children is a newborn.
The location of the video remains unclear, and Israeli authorities have not yet confirmed its authenticity.
According to a statement from the Al-Qassam Brigades, the woman is an Israeli citizen.
The AFP news agency reported, “Following the conflict, Hamas released an Israeli settlement builder and her two children.”
Abdel-Hamid Huda from Al Jazeera in West Jerusalem noted that Israeli media have been cautious about accepting the video as authentic, stating, “Some journalists have said that Hamas is now controlling the narrative. This is a media stunt. Some Israeli channels are saying this release happened earlier. Some are saying it happened on Saturday and Hamas is trying to enhance their international image at this stage.”
He added, “The images are still being spread locally. Al Jazeera has only broadcast it. People are trying to digest what they are seeing.”
There are opposing reactions to this development.
On Saturday, during the Israeli operation, Hamas reportedly took around 150 individuals into custody.
Since then, Israel has launched further air strikes on Gaza. More than a thousand people have been killed, with over 5,000 injured. In retaliation, Hamas launched attacks on Israel, resulting in 12 Israeli casualties, including several foreigners.
Israel has imposed a complete blockade on Gaza. Nothing, including food, fuel, and medicine, can enter the territory. The only power-generating facility has also been shut down due to a shortage of fuel.
