Large crowd gathers at Gaza City square to watch captive release
A large crowd of Palestinians is congregated in Gaza City’s Palestine Square ahead of the expected release of Israeli captives. In addition to hundreds of Hamas members, other Palestinian factions, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, are also present at the site, report our colleagues on the ground.
The four Israeli captives slated for today’s release – all female soldiers – are expected to be handed over to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Simultaneous presence of Qassam Brigades, Islamic Jihad fighters ‘unprecedented’
The mood in Gaza City’s Palestine Square, where the release of Israeli captives is expected to take place, is “very celebratory”, reports Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif.
The scene today is different from that of the first captive release on Sunday, which took place in Gaza City’s as-Saraya Square, he explained. This time, there are far more Palestinian fighters present – both members of Hamas’s Qassam Brigades and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades.
“We can see members of Qassam Brigades side by side with al-Quds Brigades fighters – this is unprecedented,” al-Sharif said in remarks that were translated live. “It is a signal that they are closely fighting, closely coordinated and closely taking control of the situation.”
Hundreds of civilians, including women and children, many hoisting the Palestinian flag, are also at the square, live footage of the scene shows.
“Despite the dire situation, despite the displacement, the suffering and pain … they came in celebration … expressing their support and solidarity with the fighters”, said al-Sharif.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters keep guard as they prepare to release Israeli captives, in Gaza City, on January 25
People in Gaza ‘anxious’ over gaining access to the north after captives’ release
Hamas is expected to release [four Israeli] captives today. We do not know where the release is going to happen. However, we have spotted an ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] convoy in southern Gaza.
After the captives are released, Israeli forces are going to withdraw [from the Netzarim Corridor in the centre of Gaza] and Palestinians are going to be able to return to Gaza City and northern Gaza.
That’s what people are waiting for. They’re anxious. They’re stressed. They’re waiting for the Israeli captives to be released so they can take a deep breath and be 100 percent sure they are going home tomorrow.
Palestinians gather before Hamas fighters hand over Israeli captives, in Gaza City, January 25
‘Zionism won’t win’: Images of Israeli officials on the ground at site of Gaza captive release
At the Gaza City site where the four Israeli captives are expected to be handed over to the Red Cross, Palestinian fighters stand over a large banner in Hebrew reading “Zionism won’t win”.
The banner at Palestine Square includes the emblems of several Israeli military units, as well as Israel’s domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet. Another banner placed below it shows images of several Israeli officials and Israeli military officers, with the word “failure” above each one.
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