What Is Happening

Hamas has set up stages in eastern Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip to exploit the release of the bodies of Israeli hostages for propaganda purposes. This tactic was displayed ahead of returning the bodies of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz to Israel.

Why It Matters

This strategic move highlights Hamas’s attempt to manipulate the human tragedy for political gain, creating spectacle and inflaming sentiments rather than fostering peace. By using the imagery of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an incendiary manner alongside those of the hostages, they shift blame and incite against Israel, deflecting their responsibility for the captive fatalities.

The Big Picture

On banners, Hamas blames “war criminal Netanyahu & his army” and threatens a resurgence of conflict if hostages remain a bargaining chip. Such messages underscore a critical narrative that ignores Hamas’s own violent actions and agendas driving hostilities.

Details

Posters at these events proclaim slogans equating Israeli actions to “Nazi Zionism”, in a charged rhetoric aimed at demonizing Israel internationally, steering focus away from Hamas’s accountability.

The Release Background

The tragic narrative continues with the bodies of the hostages being returned after more than 500 days in captivity by Hamas. The affected families, like that of Yarden Bibas, who experienced initial relief with his release but now face renewed grief with the return of his departed children and others, embody the profound humanitarian impact of the conflict.

This story was first published on jpost.com.