WhatsappIt was only a matter of time until we would see the sort of wild mayhem that was witnessed today in Khan Yunis at the handover of hostages Arbel Yahud and Gadi Mozes. While the handover of Agam Berger in Jabaliya just before went relatively smoothly, Yahud and Mozes’ handover appeared more like a real life zombie apocalypse movie.
The above video was shared widely and shows the fear across Arbel’s face as she is escorted by Hamas members through a sea of Gazan “civilians” out for blood. Her Hamas handlers could barely keep the seething crowd away from her as she was brought to the Red Cross vehicle.
Everyone knows that Hamas could transfer these hostages quietly and without fanfare. They are using the public spectacles to drum up Jihadist support in Gaza and around the Muslim world. They are also trying to show that they have not been defeated.
Today’s show however was so close to catastrophe that Israel’s own government has now paused the release of the previously agreed upon group of terrorists that were meant to be traded for the hostages released today.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the PM and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered to delay the release of the Arab terrorist prisoners set to be freed today in the deal with Hamas following the chaotic scenes during the release of the seven hostages in Khan Yunis. Omer Dostri stated the Arab terrorist prisoners won’t be released “until the safe release of our hostages in the future releases is guaranteed. Israel demands the mediators to achieve this,” he added.
Israel has made it clear that they will resume releasing terrorists only when the safety and security of the hostages can be ensured. Mediators have supposedly solved this impasse and while it has been reported to be cleared up and terrorists will be released at 5pm, today’s debacle has weakened Hamas’ hand and they know it. Whatever Hamas agreed to in order to get the prisoners released, they may have forfeited the ability to run the hostage release spectacles as they have been doing.
Hamas needs the continuation of the hostage release spectacles to distract their disillusioned populace that is now living in rubble due to Hamas’ attack on Israel. The wild crowds are after anything they can blame for their predicament. Without their faux show of power and evil use of the hostages as entertainment - Hamas fears the populace may decide to turn on them.
The fact is, this hostage for ceasefire deal had very little chance of reaching the next phase to begin with. Even if Hamas can guarantee safety for the rest of the hostages, the second phase requires Israel and Hamas to come to an agreement on the future control of the Gaza Strip. That is highly unlikely. Observers believe this is why the Bibas family has not been released yet. Hamas wants to use them as leverage to force Israel to agree to Hamas staying on as the rulers of Gaza in exchange for the Bibas family.
While this may be Hamas’ strategy, Israel isn’t playing along and has already demanded Hamas divulge the fate of the Bibas family knowing full well that if they are alive then Hamas would compelled to release them as they are civilians or be in contravention of the agreement. If they are dead, Israel’s public opinion would almost certainly support a return to the war in Gaza and when that happens, the US has promised that it will support Israel all the way.
