[Salon] Prisoner Exchange: The Symbolism behind Gaza's Handover

[Chas Freeman <cwfresidence@gmail.com>]

FM: John Whitbeck

The report at the link transmitted below on the first half of yesterday's scheduled hostage swap features a brief video of a happy and healthy Israeli hostage taking the opportunity to kiss the foreheads of two Palestinian fighters.

This could be a manifestation of "Stockholm syndrome", but it could also be further evidence that the Palestinian treatment of Israeli hostages, even under exceptionally difficult conditions, has been vastly more humane than the Israeli treatment of Palestinian hostages.

In any case, the reception accorded in Israel to this released Israeli is likely to be substantially less warm and euphoric than the receptions accorded to other released Israelis.

This report was published before Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that Israel would not be complying with its obligation to release yesterday more than 600 of the Palestinian hostages that it is holding because of the "humiliating ceremonies" accompanying these releases.

It is conceivable that the images of these kisses provided Netanyahu the excuse he was seeking to violate Israel's Phase 1 obligations, as soon as all living Israelis scheduled for release during Phase 1 had been released, and to resume the genocide.

https://www.palestinechronicle.com/prisoner-exchange-the-symbolism-behind-gazas-handover/