Hamas ‘Gift Bags' Given to Released Hostages: What Was Inside?
During the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas on Sunday, a striking detail caught attention: each hostage was handed a paper bag bearing the logo of Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades. The moment, captured on video, was part of the group's highly publicized handover to the Red Cross in Gaza City.
According to a representative of hostage Romi Gonen's family, the bags contained a certificate, a necklace, and photos. Israeli media reports suggest the photos depicted moments from the hostages' time in captivity. Israel's Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet) later confiscated the materials for investigation.
Hamas also presented a document labeled 'Acknowledgment of Receipt of Israeli Prisoners,' signed by a Red Cross representative. The group's display, including a militant-lined escort through Gaza City, was widely seen as an effort to project legitimacy amid ongoing conflict.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
12 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Israel ‘rejects' UK announcement on future Palestinian state recognition
Israel said Tuesday it 'rejected' Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel acts to end the war in Gaza. 'Israel rejects the statement by the prime minister of the United Kingdom', the foreign ministry posted on X, adding that the move 'constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza
Daily Tribune
13 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
UK to recognise Palestine in September unless Israel acts
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced yesterday the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various 'substantive steps' in Gaza, including agreeing to a ceasefire. The potentially landmark move, part of a plan for 'lasting peace' that Starmer is putting forward, came after the UK leader recalled his cabinet from recess for urgent talks on the worsening situation in the besieged territory. Starmer told his ministers London will formally recognise a Palestinian state in September if the Israeli government has not taken the steps demanded, his office said. They include ending 'the appalling situation in Gaza', reaching a ceasefire, making 'clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank', and committing 'to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution,' it added. 'I have always said that we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,' Starmer later said in a Downing Street address. 'With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.' Hamas demands French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly meeting in September. Starmer said 'the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza'. The two countries would be the first G7 nations to do so, with Macron's announcement last week drawing a strong rebuke fromboth Israel and the United States. However, Starmer is believed to have presented his plan forthe long-running conflict in theMiddle East to US President Donald Trump when the pair met inScotland on Monday. Trump appeared to give hisblessing for the recognition move,saying during a wide-rangingpress conference lasting more than an hour that 'I don't mindhim (Starmer) taking a position.' Speaking Tuesday, Starmer alsodetailed several demands for thePalestinian militant group Hamas,which is holding Israeli hostagesseized in its attacks on October 7, 2023. 'They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and acceptthat they will play no part in thegovernment of Gaza,' he said. The UK leader added that London 'will make an assessment inSeptember on how far the parties have met these steps', adding:'No one should have a veto overour decision.'
Gulf Insider
17 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Netanyahu Now Plans To Annex Gaza
Having rendered much of Gaza uninhabitable and displacing a huge proportion of its population, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to propose a plan by which Israel will begin claiming parts of Gaza to be Israeli territory, with an eye on eventually seizing all of it. The scheme — which is said to have President Trump's backing though also certain to trigger international condemnation — is aimed at preventing his extremist ruling coalition from splintering, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz , which first reported on it. Under the scheme, Israel will give Gaza political and militant group Hamas a short deadline for accepting a ceasefire. After Hamas refuses to accept Netanyahu's terms (which will likely be written to guarantee refusal) Israel will start annexing portions of Gaza, starting with the buffer zone it has created along the perimeter of the territory, before proceeding to claim more land in the north. Eventually, all of Gaza will be claimed as Israeli land, fulfilling the wishes of extremist ministers who are vital to Netanyahu's ruling coalition. One of those powerful coalition members is Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, which seeks to move the Israeli state closer to a theocracy. Smotrich is himself a West Bank settler who has long agitated for the annexing of that territory. In May, Smotrich told a settler conference that 'Gaza will be totally destroyed,' with all 2.3 million residents 'concentrated' in the extreme south, where they will be 'totally despairing' with 'no hope' and 'looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.' Smotrich opposed Netanyahu's decision — in the face of rising malnutrition and starvation in Gaza accompanied by growing global condemnation — to even slightly increase the flow of food and medicine into the besieged strip. So did another minister of note: Itamar Ben Gvir, who leads the National Security Ministry, called Netanyahu's move 'a capitulation to Hamas's deceitful campaign,' and reiterated his demand that nothing at all be allowed to flow into Gaza, and for the IDF to conquer the territory and encourage the Palestinians to move to other countries. To get a sense of his extremism, consider that Ben Gvir infamously adorned his home with a photo of Baruch Goldstein, who mass-murdered 28 Muslims in the 1994 Cave of the Patriarchs massacre. A before-and-after comparison of the vicinity of Gaza's Al-Amal Hospital (red marker on each photo) reveals the IDF's systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure (via The Mirror) Compounding the anger of Ben Gvir and Smotrich, Netanyahu made the decision to facilitate a small increase in aid flow (largely cosmetic) on Saturday — at a time when the two were supposedly unavailable for consultation because they both observe Shabbat. Ben Gvir called that an excuse for acting without him, saying, 'I am available all Shabbat, 24/7, because I am the national security minister and receive updates all the time.' Netanyahu's annexation scheme is designed to ease that latest political firestorm on his right, with particular focus on Smotrich, who reportedly told Netanyahu he will 'remain in the government for the time being,' and will 'judge by actions' as to whether the promised annexation of Gaza proceeds. "The Israelis don't want us to film out of the [airplane] window at the devastation inside Gaza. But I've spent 10 minutes looking at it with my own eyes and I can tell you communities in the north of Gaza, that I knew well, are flat. There's nothing left of them." — Jeremy Bowen — paulusthewoodgnome 🇺🇦 🦋 💂🏻♂️ (@woodgnomology) July 28, 2025 According to Haaretz , Netanyahu assured his ministers that the annexation plan has been presented to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and that the Trump administration supports it. Annexation could encourage more Western governments to recognize Palestine as a state. On Thursday, French President Macron announced that he intends to recognize Palestine at the September United Nations General Assembly, and Monday brought reports that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has swiftly moved closer to making the same move, under pressure from his Labour Party and growing global consensus that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Also read: Netanyahu Recalls Team From Qatar As Gaza Ceasefire Talks Collapse Again
