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SvennoJ on 22 February 2025
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Hamas sends message with choice of Rafah city for captives’ handover

The scene at the moment looks very well organised, less chaotic than previous handovers that took place in different geographical locations across the Gaza Strip.

We are going to witness two handovers today, in two locations. The first one will take place here in Rafah and the second in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

We see that heavily armed Hamas fighters have been deployed to secure the zone in which the Israeli captives will be handed over to the Red Cross, and civilians have started to arrive at the location in order to witness the handover.

Yahya Sinwar, Hamas political bureau chief, was killed in the city of Rafah just 3km (2 miles) from this location.

In the background, banners show the images and photos of Hamas’s top military leaders who have been killed during the war.

It’s also important to highlight that this route, this road that we are on right now, has been used by humanitarian aid trucks to bring more aid to the Strip.

So the choice of location has brought significant symbolism for not just Palestinians, but also for the armed wing of Hamas, who are trying today to conclude the first phase of the ceasefire agreement by releasing six Israeli captives.

Translation: The resistance continues its preparations to hand over a number of occupation prisoners in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.


Banner at Nuseirat handover site references ‘dual national’ Israelis

The banner, written in Arabic, Hebrew and English, reads: “The land distinguishes its people from the dual nationality foreigners,” in an apparent reference to Israeli dual citizens.

Today’s handover will feature at least three Israeli dual nationals: Tal Shoham, an Israeli Austrian citizen; Avera Mengitsu, an Ethiopian Israeli, and Omer Shem Tov, an American Israeli.

Translation: “The land knows its people… from the foreigners with dual nationality.” A banner raised by the resistance in the Nuseirat camp in the Gaza Strip, where a number of occupation prisoners will be released as part of the seventh batch of the Flood of the Free deal.


Hamas displays Israeli weapons captured during October 7 attacks

According to images published by the Quds News Network, Israeli automatic rifles – reportedly seized during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel – are on display in front of a stage at the site of the captive handover in Rafah, southern Gaza.



Translation: On the release platform… Israeli weapons of the occupation soldiers seized by the Qassam Brigades in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.


Israeli drones fly above handover location in Rafah

The Palestinian Information Center has published footage reportedly showing an Israeli military drone flying above the captive handover location in southern Gaza’s Rafah city.

Translation: The occupation’s drones fly in the skies of Rafah city, in tandem with the resistance’s preparation to hand over a number of occupation captives.