Hamas on Saturday handed over four female Israeli soldiers who were held captive in Gaza Strip, as part of a swap deal with the Zionist entity that saw end to the 15-month brutal war last week.
Hundreds of fighters of Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, along with Islamic Jihad’s armed wing Al-Quds Brigades, were deployed to Palestine Square in Gaza City ahead of the handover of captives.
An unexpected scene:
Israeli soldiers leave Gaza with “Qassam University” bags filled with souvenirs and certificates…
A moment for the history books! pic.twitter.com/OeySvCwFIJ— SilencedSirs◼️ (@SilentlySirs) January 25, 2025
Later on, the four captives appeared with military uniforms, carryng souvenirs from Gaza. They were escorted by Al-Qassam fighters as they got onto a stage in the square. They were then handed over to the International Red Cross whose representatives also got onto the stage to sign paperwork for their release.
The Red Cross vehicles left Gaza City and handed over the Israeli captives to the occupation military.
In Tel Aviv, families of Israeli captives gathered in the Hostages Square, with their eyes on a screen that was installed to follow up on the prisoner exchange.
Israeli media commented on the scenes of the captives in Palestine Square, with the Times of Israel describing the parade there as a show of force.
For its part, the Israeli army could not hide annoyance over the handover ceremony. Military Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari slammed Hamas’s parade as “cynical”.
“Hamas is a murderous terror group. In the last few hours Hamas proved its cruelty by organizing a cynical ceremony,” he said, as quoted by Israeli media.
Hamas “presented a misrepresentation of treatment and care for the hostages, while in reality, it is cruelly holding innocent civilians for 477 days,” Hagari said allegedly referring to the four female Israeli soldiers.
Source: Palestinian and Israeli media (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)
