‘We can change course of history:' Hamas puts up Deif poster on stage set up for hostage release

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Hamas put up a poster of former commander Mohammed Deif and his famous quote, “We can change the course of history,” at a site where Israeli hostages were released in southern Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Hamas freed two Israeli hostages in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Three others were released in Nuseirat, central Gaza, and a sixth is due to be released later in the day.

In return, Israel will release 602 Palestinian prisoners.

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, displayed a photo of Deif and his famous quote on the right side of the main platform.

The group also displayed Israeli weapons that were seized during the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Oct. 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, the military wing raised on the main platform a banner reading: “We are the flood, we are the extreme strength,” accompanied by the photos of Karam Abu Salem Crossing, where Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured in 2006, and the photo of Israeli hostage Hadar Goldin from 2014.

At the bottom of the stage, there was a banner with the poetic verse that former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar read: “Red freedom has a door, struck by every bloodied hand." Photos from Palestinian military operations against Israel were also included.

In Nuseirat refugee camp, where four Israeli captives will be freed, the group placed a banner reading: “The land distinguishes its people from the dual nationality foreigners” in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, with the photo of a rooted tree on the ground, covered with a Palestinian flag.

"The dual nationality foreigners" refers to Israelis who have another nationality besides Israeli citizenship.

At least 1 million Israeli citizens have dual nationality, mostly European and American, according to latest figures.

Ayalon Kassif, CEO of an Israeli company that helps its customers get European nationality, told Israeli news Makor Rishon that more than 500,000 Israelis have European nationality.

Hamas has captured a number of Israelis with dual citizenship in its Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

Thirty-three hostages are due to be released under the first phase that will last for 42 days.

The three-phase ceasefire deal took effect last month, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed more than 48,000 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.