Hamas, PIJ aim to show world ‘full extent’ of Israel’s war on Gaza
Choosing northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp as one of the sites for the handover of the captives is “hugely symbolically significant”, according to Beverley Milton-Edwards, non-resident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs and co-author of Hamas: The Quest for Power.
She told Al Jazeera that “what we are seeing today is an attempt by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad brigades to let the world see the full extent of Israel’s war on Gaza”.
“It is hugely symbolically significant that – as we believe – the captives’ release will take place in the northern Gaza Strip that until a few days ago nobody could get into, and specifically in the [Jabalia] refugee camp that was home to tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees that was completely and utterly destroyed by Israel during those assaults on Gaza,” she added.
A Palestinian child walks past the rubble of a building destroyed during the Israeli offensive in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on January 22
Israeli captive freed in Jabalia
Israeli captive Agam Berger has been handed over to the Red Cross in the Jabalia refugee camp. Dressed in a military uniform, she appeared walking, escorted by Palestinian fighters, through the rubble of a wrecked building in the camp.
She then appeared on a stage and waved to onlookers, before getting into a car belonging to the Red Cross.
Palestinian fighters release Israeli soldier Agam Berger, in Jabalia, Gaza, January 30
Israeli military confirms handover of Israeli captive
In a post on X, Israel’s military confirmed its forces have taken custody of released Israeli captive Agam Berger.
She is being escorted by Israeli military and Shin Bet forces into Israel, the military said.
Israel’s military is preparing to receive more captives shortly, it added.
Freed captive Agam Berger back in Israel
Israel’s military says released captive Agam Berger has crossed into Israeli territory.
She is on her way to an “initial reception point” near the border where she will reunite with her family, said the military.
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