Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Tebboune: Achieving economic integration must not remain a dream.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf delivers a speech on behalf of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Fifth Arab Development, Economic, and Social Summit in Baghdad.
Mustafa: We reaffirm our commitment to work with our brothers and friends around the world for stability and an end to wars.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa: We stress the importance of reaching an agreement to implement the initiatives of the Development, Economic, and Social Summit.
Aboul Gheit: The global economy is going through a period of turbulence.
Aboul Gheit: Concrete solutions must be found for the issue of Arab food security in line with the strategy proposed at the Arab Summit in Baghdad.
Aboul Gheit: Arab national security is an integrated whole that cannot be achieved without food, social, cyber, and other forms of security.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit: We present a comprehensive Arab strategy for food security at the Arab Development Summit.
The closing statement of the Arab Summit: We reaffirm our absolute rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people and call for the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip.
The closing statement of the Arab Summit: The goal of the Arab Summit is to unify our efforts and achieve the interests of the peoples of our region.

Israeli captive kisses head of Hamas fighter during prisoner swap

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 22 Feb 2025 20:16
  • 5 Shares
3 Min Read

During a prisoner exchange with the Israeli occupation in Gaza’s Nuseirat area, Israeli captive Omer Shem-Tov kissed the heads of two Hamas fighters.

Listen
  • x
  • Israeli hostage Omer Shem-Tov kissing the head of an al-Qassam fighter in the Gaza Strip on February 22, 2025 (Social media)
    Israeli hostage Omer Shem-Tov kissing the head of an al-Qassam fighter in the Gaza Strip on February 22, 2025 (Social media)

In a striking scene highlighting the Palestinian resistance’s treatment of Israeli captives, an Israeli detainee kissed the heads of two Hamas fighters during a prisoner exchange in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza. 

The footage of the Israeli captive's gesture spread widely across media outlets and social media, as it was seen as a reflection of the humane treatment provided by Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, to those in their custody. 

The Israeli Channel 12 reported that "the scenes of Israeli hostage Omer Shem-Tov kissing the heads of al-Qassam fighters ignited discussions across Arab social media and media outlets while being largely ignored in Israeli media."

Meanwhile, Israeli newspaper Maariv described Shem-Tov’s kiss as a "stunning and clever move" that left Hamas surprised.

In contrast, the Israeli Prison Service published an image showing that the freed Israeli captives were forced to wear shirts bearing the phrase: "I will pursue my enemies and overtake them; I will not turn back until they are destroyed." This move was widely seen as a threat to hunt down and kill former detainees.

In a similar past incident, the Palestinian resistance condemned such measures by the Israeli prison authorities, calling them "a violation of international and humanitarian laws." At that time, Palestinian groups also criticized Israel for forcing freed prisoners to wear shirts with the slogan "We do not forget, we do not forgive."

Related News

Israelis say Netanyahu endangering captives' lives for political gain

Hamas willing to negotiate without abandoning core values: Exclusive

Hamas prisoner swap

Earlier today, the Palestinian resistance in Gaza handed over six Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross as part of the seventh batch of the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

The handover saw the Resistance releasing Shem Tov, Cohen, and Wenkert. Later, the Israeli military said the ICRC received captive Hisham al-Sayed in Gaza City.

In exchange for the release of the Israeli captives, the Israeli authorities will release 50 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, 60 prisoners serving long-term sentences, and 47 prisoners who were freed as part of the "Wafa al-Ahrar" exchange deal but were re-arrested by the Israeli occupation forces.

Additionally, 445 detainees from the Gaza Strip, who were abducted after October 7, 2023, will also be released today, according to the Prisoners' Information Office.

Our correspondent said that in Ofer prison, Palestinian prisoners and detainees who are to be released are being gathered, most of whom will be transferred to the Gaza Strip.

She added that Israeli military reinforcements have been deployed inside and outside the prison.

Last night, the occupation forces raided the homes of a number of detainees in the West Bank who are to be released today, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent.

 
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Palestine
  • Occupied Palestine
  • Gaza
  • Gaza Strip
Gaza prevails against genocide

Gaza prevails against genocide

Most Read

Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
A Microsoft sign and logo are pictured at the company's headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash. (AP)
Technology

Microsoft admits supplying AI to 'Israel' amid Gaza carnage

Israeli occupation’s tanks parked in a staging area near the border with Gaza, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' launches multi-axis assault in Gaza under 'Gideon’s Chariots'

People stand at the train ticket counter of NJ Transit at Penn Station, amid a strike by New Jersey Transit train engineers, in New York, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)
Economy

Commuters stranded amid first New Jersey railway strike in 40 years

Trump's tax bill stalls as Republican opposition demands deeper cuts
US & Canada

Trump's tax bill stalls as Republican opposition demands deeper cuts

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS