An extension of the agreed ceasefire has led to the release of twelve more hostages, including nine women, a teenager, and two Thai nationals. Hamas once again used the event to its advantage.
On Tuesday evening, Israelis once again waited anxiously in front of their televisions: The extension of the agreed ceasefire between Hamas and Israel promised the release of ten more Israelis. The families of the hostages had been informed beforehand, but until the very end it remained a nail-biting wait to see whether their loved ones were actually among those announced as being freed.
“Hamas is playing Russian roulette with us,” was a recurring theme in television reports. Because what sounds so peaceful—the ceasefire—and what sounds so victorious—the freed hostages—most commentators agree on one thing: “Hamas alone sets the rules—the Israeli government can only react.”
Finally, the long-awaited hostages arrived: a teenager with her mother, eight elderly women, and two Thai workers. Most had been abducted from Kibbutz Nir Os; some were simply visiting relatives. No further children were released on Tuesday, including the infant Kfir Bibas.
The released hostages
Tamar Metzger (78). Her husband Joram (80) remains in captivity.
Ditza Heiman (84).
Noralin Babadila Agojo (60). Her husband Gideon Babani was murdered on October 7th.
Ada Sagi (75).
Ophelia Adit Roitman (77).
Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav (36). Her husband Jagev (34) remains in captivity.
Meirav Tal (54). Her partner Jair Jaakov (59) remains in custody. His sons Or (16) and Jagil (13) were released on Monday.
Gabriela Leimberg (59) and her daughter Mia (17). Gabriela's sister Clara Marman (63).
The Thais Pattanajut Tonsakree and Owat Surijasri (40).
Perfidious staging
As in previous days, the handover was perfectly staged by Hamas: Amid the jeers and whistles of hundreds of youths, masked and heavily armed Hamas terrorists led the Israelis from their jeeps to the vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). One can only imagine the fear the Israelis must have endured amidst the shouting and loud cries of "Allahu Akbar.".
It appears staged and contrived when the camera of Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, pans to the ICRC staff member, who calls out a deliberately businesslike "Insha'Allah," "God willing," to the masked terrorist. The fact that the black-clad men almost solicitously place their arms around the hostages' backs is likely intended to obscure the fact that the women have been brutally held against their will, away from their families, for the past few weeks.
The women suffered from hunger and thirst and often had to wait several hours before they could use the toilet. They were not allowed to shower and had no mattresses or even beds to sleep in. Furthermore, it was the self-proclaimed "liberation fighters" who could quickly retreat to their well-developed tunnel system when rockets went astray from Gaza or when the Israeli army dropped bombs, while the hostages were left behind without shelter.
The gestures of the Hamas terrorists are also intended to obscure the fact that their leader, Yahya Sinwar, is considered extremely brutal and has been known among his own people for decades as the "Butcher of Khan Younis." According to the statements of the released hostages from recent days, it was Sinwar who at one point revealed himself to the hostages and perfidiously said: "I am Yahya Sinwar. You don't have to be afraid, you are safe here."
Against this backdrop, it is almost refreshing to see 17-year-old Mia Leimberg swatting away a terrorist's hand and instead clinging to her dog. The dog had been kidnapped along with her on October 7th and has now been released.
Violation of the ceasefire
Just hours before the hostage handover, Hamas carried out attacks at two locations in the Gaza Strip. Several soldiers were slightly injured in the explosions. The army considers this a violation of the agreed ceasefire.
The hostages have met with their families and are undergoing medical examinations. The Thai nationals are also currently being treated in hospital. Before the Hamas attack, approximately 30,000 Thais worked in Israel, primarily in agriculture. Thirty-nine of them were murdered on October 7, and 19 were wounded. Seventeen hostages were freed after seven weeks.
A handover of ten more hostages is planned for Wednesday evening. As on Tuesday and in the days before, Israel will release 30 Palestinian security prisoners from jail today in return. (Israelnetz)
