Occupied Jerusalem- All Israeli media outlets refrained from broadcasting a video recording of three Israeli female detainees in Gaza, published by Hamas, on Monday evening, in which they sent a sharp message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and one of them demanded that they be returned to their homes and that all detainees be released in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Refraining from publishing the video, which was also banned from being transmitted on social media networks in Israel, is in line with the military censor’s instructions to prevent the publication of any information related to the conduct of the war on Gaza unless it has been reviewed by the intelligence agencies and the military censor who are authorized to decide whether to allow or ban publication.
The video contains many messages, especially since one of the female detainees directed strong criticism at Netanyahu, apparently “at the dictates of Hamas,” according to Israeli analysts, who agreed that the video falls within the “psychological warfare” and awareness battle that the movement is waging in the Israeli war. On Gaza.
“Psychological”
In response to the Hamas video, and in an attempt to prevent the escalation of what Hamas achieved in the file of Israeli detainees, and to seek to reduce its influence on Israeli public opinion, the Shin Bet General Security Service, shortly after the video of the Israeli detainees was broadcast, was quick to announce that it had been able to free an Israeli female soldier who had been detained. in Gaza.
The Shin Bet spoke about the liberation of soldier Uri Majidish, in a special ground operation in Gaza last night. The Israeli media engaged in “psychological warfare” and highlighted the news of the liberation of the kidnapped female soldier. The story dominated the headlines and became the focus of discussions in Israeli television studios, according to what was reported on the website of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
The Shin Bet announcement reflects the extent of the loss that Israel suffered through “psychological warfare.” It comes in an attempt to weaken Hamas’ narrative and reduce the contents and messages of the video of Israeli detainees.
In its statement, the Intelligence Service refrained from revealing the details of the hostage’s liberation, only saying that its members and army forces, during the limited incursion into Gaza, were able to free the female soldier who was kidnapped in the “Al-Aqsa Flood.”
Achievement and victory
The Israeli analyzes, which were in harmony with the statements of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unanimously agreed that broadcasting the recorded video of female Israeli detainees falls within what they called “psychological warfare.” However, there are those who considered the video to be another victory for Hamas in the “hostages and detainees file,” controlling it and managing the course of deal negotiations. Exchange.
In addition, there is a belief in many Israeli circles that the video and its content show that the Netanyahu government is a stumbling block and a factor that does not allow progress in the negotiations, but rather hinders them. Its broadcast comes to mobilize Israeli public opinion and the families of the detainees to expand the protests in order to pressure the Netanyahu government to reach an agreement.
According to Israeli readings, the video broadcast by the Al-Qassam Brigades aims to present an image to the international community that the Israeli and foreign prisoners are being held in good conditions, and that their health is normal.
The content of the video of the three female detainees and its impact is added to the message carried and expressed by the elderly Israeli woman Yochbad Lifshitz, from the agricultural settlement “Nir Oz”, who was captive with the Israeli woman Nurit Cooper, held by the Hamas movement in Gaza, and the movement released them last week for humanitarian reasons, according to what was reported. Haaretz newspaper.
The video of the three Israeli women detained by the Hamas movement did not come as a surprise to the security services in Tel Aviv, which expected that the Al-Qassam Brigades would at some point begin publishing videos of some of the kidnapped people, as a pressure card on the Netanyahu government, and as a means to determine the progress of the exchange deal negotiations.
Pressure and mobilization
The Walla news website considered the recording broadcast by Hamas a means of pressure on Netanyahu in order to force him to agree to a comprehensive exchange deal for Israeli detainees in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It saw in it a pressure card in the negotiations held by the Hamas movement in exchange for the absence of any Israeli pressure card in this file.
The news site considered the latest recording to be the first sign of life for the “Israeli hostages” held by Hamas, who number 239 hostages, according to the Israeli army, after the release of Yochbad Lifshitz, Nurit Cooper, and Judith and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter residing in the United States.
Thus, Walla journalist Uri Sela says that the offer to record the three women, in the wake of the video in which Yochbad Lifshitz was seen separating from her captors by shaking hands, is a continuation of the psychological warfare practiced by Hamas, which is trying to present itself as a movement that cares. With the kidnapped people, he seeks to reach a deal with Israel, which obstructs this.
Hamas and Netanyahu
Commenting on the recording and the timing of its broadcast, the military correspondent for the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, Tal Ram Lev, said that it falls within the psychological warfare and awareness battle that Hamas is waging against the Israeli government in everything related to the exchange deal file, which comes in the context of the Israeli move towards a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. Without resolving the issue of detainees.
The military correspondent pointed out that Hamas, by broadcasting the video of the female Israeli detainees, wants to show that it is controlling the conduct of the prisoner exchange negotiations, without there being any responses or practical steps from the Israeli side, in an effort to create a supportive situation in Israeli society for an exchange deal on the movement’s terms. And forcing Netanyahu to accept it under public pressure.
He said that Hamas has the upper hand in the psychological warfare in the exchange deal file, and even in the course of the war, and is trying, by broadcasting the recording of Israeli detainees, to impose its narrative in this file, and to show itself to the world, and not just to the Israelis, as a movement that cares about the detainees, and it has achieved successes in doing so. .
He pointed out that one of the questions preoccupying Israel now is whether it is possible to reach a comprehensive deal that includes all Israeli detainees, including civilians and soldiers, at this stage.
The military correspondent says, “It seems likely that a partial agreement will be reached, at least as a first step, regarding the liberation of the largest number of civilians, especially women.”
