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Hamas’s Psychological Warfare: Hostages Coerced into Propaganda Ceremony
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a deeply troubling revelation reported by Israeli media, three recently released hostages from Gaza—Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher—were forced to participate in a staged propaganda ceremony orchestrated by Hamas. The incident sheds light on the psychological manipulation employed by the terror group to exploit captives even in the moments leading up to their release. According to a report on Sunday at World Israel News (WIN), this incident drew attention to the dual objectives of Hamas’s actions: to craft a deceptive image of humanity while perpetuating trauma.
Hamas published their psychological warfare
– The terrorists force the hostages to smile at the beginning of the video.
– N12 news reports that Hamas gave the 3 hostages a bag containing a certificate and images of their captivity. One last parting “gift” of psychological abuse. pic.twitter.com/PIKhF38EdB— Sve (@October292022) January 19, 2025
The hostages, freed from months of captivity, were handed “gift bags” containing unsettling items just before being transferred to the Red Cross. These bags, as reported by WIN, included photographs of Gaza, images of the hostages during their imprisonment, and a so-called “certificate of release.” Analysts have described these items as meticulously designed psychological tools, aimed at embedding the hostages’ trauma into physical objects they would carry forward. The inclusion of these items reveals the calculated cruelty behind Hamas’s actions, as noted in the WIN report.
This is a clip from a Hamas propaganda video. Take a close look at how these deranged terrorists put on a grotesque spectacle during the transfer of hostages. Psychological terror is but a small term to describe what is unfolding here. Not a single civilized person can be seen in… pic.twitter.com/NeJpplXCiq
— Michael Livschitz (@MikeLivschitz) January 19, 2025
Emily Damari and Romi Gonen, who were held together in captivity, were reportedly coerced into participating in this grotesque charade. According to the information provided in the World Israel News report, they were made to pose for staged photographs while smiling and holding their certificates. This forced simulation of gratitude toward their captors added another layer to their psychological torment. As the WIN report detailed, Hamas’s so-called “farewell” ceremony not only mocked the hostages’ suffering but also served as a propaganda tool for the terror organization.
A video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed the hostages clutching these “gift bags” as they were handed over to Israeli troops. The chilling images emphasize the torment endured by the survivors, who had to navigate the twisted theatrics imposed by their captors. The WIN report indicated that these visuals serve as a stark reminder of the trauma inflicted by Hamas, even in the moments before the hostages regained their freedom.
Experts have pointed out, according to the information in the WIN report, that such staged acts serve a dual purpose for Hamas. While aiming to project a false narrative of “humanity,” they simultaneously act as tools of psychological warfare. The inclusion of sentimentalized “souvenirs” ensures that the trauma of captivity lingers long after the hostages have been released, making the ordeal a continuing psychological burden. This tactic is emblematic of the group’s broader strategy of calculated cruelty.
For the survivors, the so-called “gift bags” are far from tokens of remembrance. Instead, as the WIN report explained, they are haunting symbols of their ordeal, cementing the psychological scars inflicted during captivity. These objects, filled with images and items tied to their trauma, act as constant reminders of the emotional and psychological torment they endured.
The staged ceremony and its accompanying “souvenirs” are yet another testament to the cynical and manipulative tactics of Hamas, as documented in the WIN report. For the international community, these revelations highlight the importance of addressing the psychological impact on hostages and condemning the exploitation of such vulnerable individuals for propaganda purposes.
In a related development, Reuters reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a commander by phone, “I would like you to tell them: Romi, Doron and Emily – an entire nation embraces you. Welcome home.”
At Sheba Medical Center, the women were reunited with their families in long embraces that went from tears to laughter. A smiling Damari was draped in an Israeli flag. They were among more than 250 people abducted and 1,200 killed in a Hamas raid on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
For its part, Israel released over 90 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday as part of the ceasefire/hostage deal agreement. Reuters reported that as buses carrying the prisoners rolled into Ramallah in the West Bank, fireworks lit up the sky in celebration, and thousands gathered to greet them. According to Hamas, the group of released detainees included 69 women and 21 teenage boys from the West Bank and Jerusalem.
It was nearly two hours past midnight when the families of Palestinian prisoners finally saw the Red Cross buses carrying their loved ones, according to a report in The New York Times, Some clutched necklaces crafted from red and white flowers, representing the colors of the Palestinian flag, while others brought jackets and scarves to welcome the returning detainees.
The New York Times reported that the release of the 90 Palestinian prisoners marked the conclusion of the initial phase in a tense series of hostage-for-prisoner exchanges during the 42-day truce. Both Israelis and Palestinians are now bracing for the next exchange, scheduled for Saturday, when four Israeli hostages are set to be freed in return for additional Palestinian prisoners.
