Hamas Using Hostage Exchange Deals to Employ “Psychological Warfare” in Separating Families
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – In the recent hostage releases by Hamas, despite the explicit stipulation in the details of the release deal that families cannot be separated, several families have been split up in the first two batches. This action by Hamas is seen as a form of “psychological warfare” and a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
In the recent hostage releases, several families have been separated, and despite their newfound freedom, they grapple with the anguish of knowing that their family members are still left behind in Gaza.
“Hamas has been playing this, conducting psychological warfare with the families of the hostages all along,” stated IDF Foreign Media Spokesman Jonathan Cornices.
Representatives from the kibbutz of Be’eri, where 12 of the 13 hostages released on Saturday were abducted, have accused Hamas of “grossly violating” the agreement by releasing a young girl without her mother. Hila Rotem-Shoshani (13) from the Kibbutz, was released in the second group of captives late on Saturday night, returned to Israel without her mother, Raaya Rotem (54).
Maya Regev, the 21-year-old hostage, who was initially taken captive with her brother Itai during the Supernova rave party in Kibbutz Re’im, was freed on Saturday night. While she has been released, her brother, if still alive, remains in captivity in Gaza.
During his captivity in Gaza, Ohad Munder-Zichri, who celebrated his 9th birthday, was released alongside his mother, Karen Munder (54), and his grandmother, Ruthi Munder (78). Unfortunately, Ohad’s grandfather, Avraham Munder, is still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
The Shoham family continues to be separated following the hostage release, as Adi Shoham (38) and her children Nave (8) and Yahel (3) were released. However, Avshalom Shoham (38), the husband and father of Adi and her children, is a hostage in Gaza.
Furthermore, Noam Or (17) and his sister Alma (13) were released on Saturday night without their father, Dror. Unfortunately, their mother, Yonat, was killed during the Hamas invasion and brutal attack on Oct. 7. The children were not aware of their mother’s demise and only learned about it upon returning to Israel. Ahal Besora, the siblings’ uncle, mentioned, “We had to bring the sad news to them.”
The Weiss family was also separated in the hostage release, with Shiri Weiss (53) and her daughter Noga (18) being released on Saturday night. However, the head of the family, Ilan (58), is still held captive in Gaza.
“We need to continue to pray for the safety and the complete release of all the captives in Gaza, let’s be sure to add these names to our daily prayer journals,” said George Whitten, founder of Worthy Ministries.
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