Israeli Prime Minister’s office threatened an “action” on Saturday as Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades conveyed “tough messages” during the handover of three Israeli captives held in Gaza for 16 months.
In exchange of the three Israeli captives, 183 Palestinian prisoners are due to be released throughout the day.
Saturday’s swap is the fifth under the truce agreement, which took effect on January 19, and is part of the first phase of the truce, which lasts for 42 days and runs until early March.
Handover Ceremony
Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades set up a stage for the handover to the Red Cross in Deir al-Balah, decorated with a sign declaring “total victory,” the catchphrase used by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu throughout the war.
Banners on the stage read: “We are the flood, we are the war’s day after.”
The three captives appeared on the stage ahead of the handover, surrounded by Al-Qassam Brigades fighters and holding up release certificates.
Scenes from the handover of the Israeli captives in Gaza pic.twitter.com/HbIEHRFA7f
— The World War (@TheWorldWar12) February 8, 2025
Two of them wore brown outfits declaring them to be prisoners while the third was dressed in an approximation of an Israeli military uniform in reference that he was a military serviceman.
As has now become a regular part of the proceedings, representatives of the International Red Cross sat at desks on the stages to sign the handover documents produced by the Palestinian resistance group.
“Tough Messages”
Commenting on the handover ceremony, Hamas Spokesman Hazem Qassem said: “Today’s handover carries a clear message by Al-Qassam that the people and resistance are the ones who shape “the day after” not any external force.”
On the other hand, Israeli Channel 13 quoted sources as saying that the Israeli side conveyed a “tough message” that “today’s scene won’t go unnoticed.”
Hundreds of Israeli settlers gathered in Tel Aviv to watch the Qassam Brigades’ handover of three Israeli captives in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, as part of the fifth batch of the prisoner exchange deal. pic.twitter.com/Y0dAT3lKN0
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 8, 2025
“Action to Be Taken”
For its part, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement warning that “the emaciated appearance” of three captives freed by Hamas was “unacceptable” and that the Zionist entity would take action on the matter.
“The shocking images we saw today will not pass without response,” the statement said.
“The government, together with security officials, will support them and their families. Israel is committed to bringing back all the hostages and missing.”
A second statement, released a short time later by Netanyahu’s office, said ‘Israel’ would take unspecified actions in response to the conditions of the three Israeli captives.
“Due to the harsh condition of the three hostages and the repeated violations of the Hamas terror groups, the prime minister has ordered that Israel will not gloss over this and will take action as needed,” the statement read.
Source: Palestinian and Israeli media (edited and translated by Al-Manar English Website)
