A viral video capturing Israeli captive Omer Shem Tov kissing the heads of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades fighters during his release in the seventh prisoner exchange deal has triggered widespread reactions on social media and in the media.
The footage, filled with symbolic and emotional undertones, showcased the humane treatment of Israeli captives while in Gaza, a point that has been widely discussed in recent prisoner exchanges.
A Remarkable Scene: Israeli Soldier Kisses Two Al-Qassam Fighters
In another striking moment during the exchange, an Israeli captive kissed the heads of two Al-Qassam fighters while standing on the handover platform in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
As part of the seventh prisoner exchange, Hamas' military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, handed over three Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Al-Nuseirat. Earlier in the day, two other captives were transferred in Rafah, bringing the total to five before the final captive was released later.
Amid crowds of Gaza residents, the released Israeli captives greeted the audience with victory signs, which were met with cheers and celebration from the gathered crowd.
Meanwhile, Israeli reports suggested that freed Israeli captives were under the influence of sedatives, downplaying the significance of the gesture.
Hamas' Decision to Exclude a Ceremony for Captive Hisham Al-Sayed
Unlike the other captives, Hamas decided to hand over Hisham Al-Sayed in Gaza without any formal ceremony. Sources told Al Jazeera that this decision was made out of respect for Palestinian citizens in Israel, as Al-Sayed was classified as a Palestinian Bedouin serving in the Israeli army.
According to Al-Qassam, the Israeli government abandoned Al-Sayed for 10 years, showing no urgency to secure his release, despite his service in the military.
On Saturday, six Israeli captives were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross, marking the 35th day of the ceasefire agreement.
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