The handover of hostages this Saturday (25) was the most choreographed so far by Hamas.
A stage was erected in Palestine Square in Gaza City, where hundreds of masked men carrying automatic weapons guarded the scene.
Hamas appeared to be trying to show that it was still in charge of Gaza, despite the attacks it suffered during the 15-month war.
When Hamas handed over the four female Israeli soldiers this Saturday, they also dressed them in makeshift military uniforms.
See photos of the reunion of former hostages with their families
The four women, aged 19 and 20, wore green khaki-style jackets and pants and had their hair tied in neat ponytails.
On the stage where the women were taken during their liberation, a large banner hung with the words: “Zionism will not win.”
The banner also showed symbols of military units that are often seen on Israeli uniform labels, as well as symbols of the Shin Bet – Israel’s Internal Security Agency.
In contrast, the three hostages released last week, who were not soldiers on duty, wore brightly colored civilian clothes.
Videos of the kidnapping of the four female soldiers by Hamas on October 7, 2023 have gone viral.
Most of the women were dressed in civilian clothes at the time of the abduction, including pajamas when they were taken from their rooms. The videos showed them covered in blood.
In one video, Naama Levy was dragged by her hair at gunpoint, her hands were tied and her ankles were cut.
Over the 15-month war between Israel and Hamas, 841 Israeli soldiers were killed, including 405 fighting in Gaza, according to the Israeli army.
More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the local Health Ministry, saying the majority of them are women and children.
This content was originally published in Analysis: Hamas sent a message to Israel with the release of hostages choreographed on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
