"Hamas humiliated Israel with hostage exchange scenes"

Military analyst Bohbot wrote an article for the Hebrew-language Israeli news site Walla.

Emphasizing that the hostage exchange footage released by Hamas has caused the perception that the Israeli army has taken control of Gaza to be questioned, Bohbot used the phrase, "Hamas humiliated Israel with the hostage exchange scenes."

Reminding that the Israeli army first applied a tactic of destruction with intense airstrikes in the northern Gaza Strip and then declared that it had taken control of the region, Bohbot said that the footage of the hostage exchange released by Hamas brings to mind the question, "Who is the real owner of Gaza?"

Analyzing the footage of the hostages released by Hamas, Bohbot noted the following:

"In the very well-prepared video, it is possible to watch footage of Hamas activists carrying the kidnapped hostages to Red Cross vehicles and saying goodbye to them. Furthermore, additional information circulating on social media raises doubts about whether the Israeli army has effectively taken control of Gaza as it appears.

The footage shot in the center of Gaza shows that, despite the claim that (Israeli) army forces have taken control of the northern part of the Gaza Strip and the fact that our forces are deployed throughout the region, dozens of armed Hamas elements are moving comfortably in the area without recognizing any obstacles while handing over the hostages to the Red Cross."

Yesterday, Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas to International Committee of the Red Cross officials in the center of Gaza, where the Israeli army had declared it had taken control. In the third hostage exchange, which took place yesterday, 39 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli prisons in exchange for 13 Israeli hostages.

According to Israel, 190 people, including Israeli officers, soldiers, police, and intelligence personnel, are still being held by Hamas.

ABOUT THE HOSTAGE EXCHANGE

The agreement for a 4-day "humanitarian pause" in the clashes between Israel and Hamas went into effect on Friday, November 24, at 07:00 (08:00 Turkish time).

According to the agreement, a consensus was reached on the release of 150 Palestinians in Israeli prisons in exchange for 50 Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Within the scope of the hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas, 40 Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip—one male, the others women and children—and 117 Palestinian women and children prisoners from Israeli prisons have been released so far.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced minutes ago that the "humanitarian pause" in Gaza has been extended for another 2 days.

Hamas also confirmed in a statement on its Telegram account that an agreement had been reached with Qatar and Egypt to extend the "humanitarian pause" for another 2 days under the same conditions.

News Source: AA