Rafah, Gaza Strip – In a highly orchestrated public display, Hamas militants staged a dramatic handover of two Israeli hostages on a rain-soaked stage in the city of Rafah, marking the seventh exchange under the current ceasefire agreement.
A crowd gathered as masked fighters, dressed in fatigues and balaclavas, led the pale and visibly disoriented captives—Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu—toward Red Cross representatives. Mengistu, appearing weak and unsteady, required assistance as he was moved toward waiting vehicles.
In a symbolic gesture, Hamas presented the hostages with written “liberation certificates” in Hebrew before their transfer. This event, broadcast in front of large banners promoting the militant group’s cause, was part of a well-rehearsed routine that has accompanied previous hostage releases.
A Hamas insider revealed that additional hostages, held in the Nuseirat refugee camp, were scheduled for release later in the day. To commemorate the occasion, the group erected makeshift stages, featuring slogans praising its fighters and fallen members.
At the event in Rafah, Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, maintained a strict perimeter around the ceremony. Some militants brandished Kalashnikov rifles, while others displayed rocket launchers, standing against the backdrop of war-ravaged buildings. The green Hamas flag was hoisted across the square, as hundreds of onlookers climbed onto rubble or stood in half-destroyed buildings to observe the event.
Among the crowd, Fidaa Awda, a resident of Rafah, voiced her unwavering support. “We stand with the resistance and with the fighters,” she declared to reporters.
Adding to the display of power, Hamas showcased a collection of U.S.-made assault rifles allegedly taken from Israeli soldiers in combat, placing them on a table draped in camouflage fabric.
As the foggy morning unfolded, pickup trucks carrying armed militants paraded through the streets. A young boy, wearing military fatigues and a Hamas headband, was hoisted by an onlooker, embodying the group’s efforts to rally public sentiment.
In an official statement, Hamas emphasized its stance on the ongoing conflict, warning Israel that they had two choices: “Receive their prisoners in coffins, as happened on Thursday due to Netanyahu’s arrogance, or embrace their prisoners alive by complying with the resistance’s demands.”
This latest exchange underscores the ongoing tension and strategic maneuvers shaping the fragile ceasefire, as both sides weigh their next moves in a deeply entrenched conflict.