How Did Al-Qassam’s Media War Contribute to the Israeli Occupation’s Failure in the Prisoner Release?

Israeli media sources have revealed that “Hamas orchestrated a major media spectacle during the release of female captives in Gaza, highlighting the need for Israel to avoid falling into a deep propaganda trap amid the wave of excitement and joy surrounding their return. The event turned into a striking psychological warfare maneuver broadcast live to Israelis, exacerbating the psychological pressure exerted by Hamas.”

Eddy Katzman, a columnist for Maariv, stated that “Hamas’ propaganda war against Israel was evident in the theatrical display of the female captives’ release, mimicking a liberation celebration. The movement attempted to portray that the captives lived under good conditions and were freed in a carefully staged scene, appearing as if they were expressing gratitude to their captors. Strangely, Israeli media, whether knowingly or unknowingly, played into Hamas’ psychological pressure by repeatedly broadcasting these images across major news channels, headlines, and even in elite dining venues.”

In an article translated by Arabi21, Katzman emphasized that “the only way to halt such theatrical performances is for Israel to ensure the swift return of all captives, regardless of the cost. This, however, does not necessarily imply a fundamental shift in policy but rather aims to prevent similar disasters from recurring in the future. Despite the difficulty of making such a decision, it is imperative to stop cooperating with Hamas’ carefully orchestrated broadcasts.”

He further noted that “Israeli media is well-versed in handling psychological warfare and often chooses not to air certain footage released by Hamas, while still providing essential information to the public. This has been the case countless times since the war began, particularly when videos of prisoners being taken were disseminated. This raises the question: why did it not happen this time? Why must the Israeli public be subjected to enemy propaganda all day long, live on their television screens, while they are eagerly awaiting updates about the return of the captives?”

He concluded by saying that “the Israeli female captives should not be paraded on live television as props for Hamas, with Palestinian flags in the background. The only thing they deserve is a massive apology from the military that abandoned them on that horrific day of their abduction, and from the state that has hesitated in securing their release ever since.”

Hamas’ Propaganda and Strategic Narrative

Meanwhile, Gadi Ezra, former director of Israel’s Information Center and author of 11 Days in Gaza, claimed that “Hamas wasted no time in declaring victory even before Netanyahu confirmed the existence of a ceasefire agreement. Despite suffering leadership losses, targeted assassinations, and extensive destruction in Gaza, Hamas’ propaganda machine remained unfazed. The movement continued asserting that the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ operation was a source of pride, a sentiment clearly reflected in social media artwork, demonstrating Hamas’ relentless efforts to control the narrative.”

In an article published by Yedioth Ahronoth, Ezra stated that “Palestinians are the only population in the world that claims both genocide and victory at the same time. Their goal is clear: to reinforce Palestinian consciousness and strengthen Hamas’ grip on the Gaza Strip, especially as Israel’s public diplomacy efforts falter in the face of an international discourse that portrays the Gaza war as having started on October 8. The Palestinian struggle is now framed around the legitimacy of their war rather than the details of any prisoner exchange, and the numbers speak for themselves.”

He pointed to an October 2024 survey by the Harvard-Harris Institute, revealing that “44% of younger Americans (ages 18-24) supported a ceasefire in Gaza, even if it did not include the release of Israeli captives. This is a shocking statistic that poses a strategic challenge for American leadership in the future and underscores an alarming level of ignorance regarding the real conditions and dangers associated with the next phases of the prisoner exchange deal.”