For three days now, every time the names of the hostages released by Hamas are published in Israel, the same question has been asked: “Are the red-haired children there?” But so far the response has been negative each time. No, the “red-haired children” were not yet on the lists on Sunday, November 26, when the Israeli authorities announced the return of the third group of released people.
Also read: Live, Israel-Hamas war: 14 Israeli hostages and 3 Thais released on this third day of ceasefire
As part of the agreement between the Islamist organization and Israel, 14 Israelis (including nine children and three dual nationals) and three Thais were exchanged for 39 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas, which is conducting parallel negotiations, let a 26-year-old Russian-Israeli go to thank Vladimir Putin for his support of the Palestinian cause.
These little ones with the extravagant hair are called Ariel, 9 months old, and Kfir, 4 years old. They were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 along with their mother, Shiri Bibas. Her father, Yarden, is also being held in Gaza and two of her grandparents have been murdered. Since then, the photo of Shiri holding her sons close, wrapped in a light blanket and with a Hamas man’s hand on her shoulder, has become an icon: the perfect symbol of threatened innocence, but also of maternal love and Fear .
Also read the editorial: Free all hostages in Gaza
Negotiate
So much so that today some in Israel are asking the question: Has this symbol turned against the “red-haired children” and their mother? Didn’t he make them valuable pieces in Hamas’ game? The negotiations for the release of the hostages since Friday, November 24th clearly show that this is also a psychological war on the part of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza. A terrible trade in which the Islamist organization, the Israelis are convinced, exploits their fears to the maximum and carefully selects the people from whom it wants to separate.
Some cards may be worth more than others, in this face-to-face conversation that makes Hamas the master of the situation and Israel a humiliated nation. Is an older woman (there were six in the first group on November 24th) as valuable as a child? Does a person with dual nationality have more weight than a person with only an Israeli passport, in a country where a significant proportion of the population has two nationalities?
No one can answer these questions, but one thing is certain: the various governments affected are sparing no effort to secure compensation for their citizens. The families of dual nationals have often said it after October 7th: they have high hopes for the heads of state and government of third countries whose passports they hold. So far, Germany has won, so to speak, with eight freed people. So far, none of the eight French people believed to be prisoners in Gaza have left the enclave.
You still have 60% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.