When three Israeli hostage women were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza on Sunday night, the significant moment was not only filmed by Hamas but also edited and released to the media later.
The three women were handed khaki bags labeled Tufan Al-Aqsa (the name given to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel).
According to several reports published in Israeli media these bags contained photographs and release certificates.
In the videos released by Hamas considerable attention was given to the crowd gathered during the event how many people were present and who they were. These details shed light on Hamas' strength and influence after 15 months of prolonged and devastating conflict.
The hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Al Sarayah Square a central area in Gaza City. Using the release video footage and old images we geo located this site on the map.
The video released by Hamas shows a significant gathering in a narrow space with a large number of people present.
Some individuals in the crowd can be seen wearing the uniforms of Hamas' elite unit and carrying weapons. This seemingly conveys the message that despite the prolonged war several senior fighters remain alive operational and in control in Gaza. The size of the gathering further emphasizes this assertion of control.
However it remains unclear who the masked individuals in the video actually were.
In a video posted on the social media platform it can be seen that a person in a Hamas uniform is directing the crowd. He tells them to move back possibly because the crowd present was ruining the scene that Hamas wanted to showcase.
Drone footage shows that in some areas, there is a crowd, while in the surrounding areas people are scattered. In these scenes it also appears that some individuals are merely passing by meaning they are bystanders.
In one scene, it can also be seen that some people are wearing Hamas uniforms and are standing very close to the vehicles that were carrying the female hostages during the release process. These individuals are in the minority.
From some of the scenes we can estimate how many people had gathered there. A crowd expert taking into account the size of the space and the density of the gathering stated that there were between 1,100 and 2,200 people present.
The Red Cross has stated that the transfer of hostages was a complex process and required robust security measures.
It is important to note that in the next phases of the Hamas Israel ceasefire the release of more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners is expected.
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