The chilling moment captured on video shows a group of Hamas terrorists surrounding a British-Israeli and two other women as they enter a Red Cross van during a handover.
Chaotic footage captured the scenes of the first Israeli hostage release since the long-awaited ceasefire came into effect today.
The scene, shared on social media, depicts Hamas forces dressed in camouflage attire and carrying rifles, converging around a Red Cross rescue vehicle, where three hostages were being released after enduring 417 days in captivity.
In the footage, numerous heavily armed Hamas fighters can be seen yelling at the crowds in Gaza and pushing them aside to make way for the white van.
Another clip of the exchange unfolding shows Hamas members clamouring around the car and shouting into the open doors where the hostages are.
They could be seen struggling to control the crowds as they attempted to push them away from the path of the Red Cross convoy, which was carrying three female hostages.
On Sunday, Hamas confirmed the names of the first three hostages to be set free, including British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and Romi Gonen, 24.
All three were abducted during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and are now being returned home to their families.
The trio are being accompanied by IDF special forces as they return to Israeli territory.Â
There are 30 other names on the list, including women, men, and children, and they are all due to to be released in the first stage of the ceasefire deal.
It comes as Hamas militants brazenly emerged from hiding to celebrate a new ceasefire with Israel, shamelessly parading through the streets of Gaza while brandishing AK-47s and waving the group’s green flags on Sunday.Â
Just hours before handing over the hostages, startling images showed masked fighters in camouflage and balaclavas, with some standing on vehicles, and others marching defiantly through towns that have been reduced to rubble after months of intense fighting.
The ceasefire, which took effect at 11:15am local time, brings a temporary pause to 15 months of bloodshed.Â
But the scenes of Hamas militants celebrating openly have sparked international outrage and renewed fears that the terror group has managed to retain its strength despite Israel’s efforts to dismantle it.
The sight of Hamas militants openly celebrating the ceasefire has drawn condemnation from many quarters, with critics calling it a mockery of the lives lost and the ongoing suffering of hostages and their families.
‘These images are a slap in the face to all who have suffered because of Hamas’s brutality,’ one observer said.Â
‘It shows they are unrepentant and ready to fight again.’
The ceasefire agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, outlines a complex roadmap for de-escalation.Â
Over the next six weeks, dozens of hostages are expected to be returned, with four being released on the seventh day of the ceasefire and further releases continuing weekly.
In return, Israel has agreed to allow increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, including 600 truckloads of supplies daily, with 50 carrying vital fuel to address the humanitarian crisis.
In the first phase, Hamas is set to release women and children taken hostage in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, many of whom have not been convicted or tried.
The second phase will see the release of remaining hostages, including male soldiers, in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners.
The final phase, set to begin after hostilities fully cease, will focus on reconciliation and rebuilding.Â
This includes efforts to locate and return the bodies of hostages who did not survive captivity, as well as a long-term reconstruction plan for Gaza, overseen by international authorities.
