The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has released a video showing the release of an Israeli woman and two children who were captured during the group’s surprise attack against the occupied territories on Saturday.
The video footage, released on Wednesday, shows an unidentified woman and two children released in an open area near the fence separating Gaza from the occupied territories, as Hamas fighters walk away.
The Gaza-based movement’s military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement that the woman was an Israeli settler.
“An Israeli settler and her two children were released after they were detained during the clashes,” it said, according to a report by the AFP news agency.
It is unclear when the video was shot. The Israeli authorities are yet to comment on the video.
The latest development comes amid debunked Western media allegations that Hamas beheaded babies during its large-scale operation.
In a statement on Wednesday, Hamas categorically denied the allegations, saying the group does not attack civilians.
The al-Qassam Brigades and the resistance only attack the military and security apparatuses of the Israeli regime, which are legitimate targets, it added.
The Israeli military also admitted that it cannot officially confirm the claims, yet endorsed them nevertheless.
The Intercept quoted a spokesperson for the military as saying on Tuesday that the Israeli military forces could not confirm the accusations.
“We cannot confirm it officially, but you can assume it happened and believe the report,” she added.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden also claimed he had seen “confirmed pictures” of Hamas fighters beheading children.
However, the White House later clarified that Biden and other US officials have not seen or independently confirmed those claims.
The Washington Post, citing a White House spokesperson, said Biden’s remarks were based on media reports and on claims from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson.
On Saturday, Hamas waged the largest military operation against the occupying entity in decades, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.
The resistance movement said that its operation came in response to Israel’s violations at al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds and growing settler violence.
Israeli media outlets report that more than 1,300 settlers and troops have been killed, while the number of those injured exceeds 3,300.
Following Hamas’ surprise attack, Israel launched deadly strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Israeli officials also ordered a total blockade of Gaza to compensate for heavy losses suffered during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes has reached 1,200, including scores of children. The attacks have left nearly 5,600 injured.
