Newly leaked documents reveal Hamas's disturbing strategy of exploiting hostages as a means of psychological warfare, both to pressure the Israeli government and to manipulate international opinion. According to reports, the terrorist organization, which captured numerous Israeli civilians and soldiers, aims to use these captives to prolong negotiations and weaken Israel’s resolve in its ongoing conflict with Gaza.
The documents, reportedly retrieved from a Hamas leader's computer, outline a carefully orchestrated plan to maximize the psychological toll on Israel. One of the key objectives, according to these documents, is to maintain the hostage situation for as long as possible, thereby keeping constant pressure on the Israeli government. The strategy includes the use of videos featuring hostages pleading for their lives and criticizing Israeli leadership. The terrorists meticulously stage these recordings to present the hostages as being well-treated, even as they continue to endure brutal conditions behind the scenes.
Since local media won't cover Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison celebrating the banning of a social media platform by a foreign country, we'll just have to share this far and wide.
I'd rather not have to. I'd rather have a media that does its job. But here we are. 👇 pic.twitter.com/ScNyy5vZ86
— Walter Hudson (@WalterHudson) September 5, 2024
Hamas's tactics are not limited to Israeli public sentiment. The documents also reveal that the terror group aims to manipulate international opinion by painting Israel as the aggressor during failed ceasefire negotiations. The goal is to shift blame for stalled talks onto the Israeli government while portraying Hamas as willing to negotiate. This psychological pressure is designed to not only demoralize Israeli citizens but also to erode Israel’s political standing on the global stage.
Adding to the complexity, the leaked plans indicate that Hamas seeks to use any potential ceasefire agreement as a cover to rebuild its military capabilities. According to the documents, Hamas negotiators are instructed to propose the stationing of Arab military forces along the Gaza border, ostensibly as peacekeepers. However, the true aim is for these forces to serve as a buffer, preventing Israeli forces from entering Gaza while Hamas regroups and rearms for future conflict.
Mark Ruffalo manages to blame the US and Israel for the murder of six hostages without ever once mentioning Hamas. Not once. He blames everyone for the execution of the six hostages except the executioners.
When you declare Israel the oppressor and Hamas the oppressed, what… pic.twitter.com/Zzu9ueRLnU
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) September 8, 2024
The psychological warfare does not stop at just the hostages. Hamas intends to apply relentless emotional pressure on the families of the captured Israelis. One section of the document advises prolonging the agony of these families through videos and communications from their loved ones. This tactic has proven effective in previous hostage crises, where families, desperate for any sign of life, have pushed their government to make concessions.
Recent videos released by Hamas illustrate the grim reality of this strategy. In these videos, hostages are coerced into reading scripted messages that demand Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take action to secure their release. The release of these videos coincides with key moments in negotiations, increasing the emotional strain on both the families and the wider Israeli public. Some family members have described watching these videos as a form of "slow-motion trauma," torn between the relief of seeing their loved ones alive and the agony of their suffering.
While the international community has long condemned Hamas's use of hostages, this latest revelation offers new insight into the extent of the group's cynical tactics. Far from seeking a peaceful resolution, Hamas appears intent on leveraging the suffering of both Israeli citizens and Palestinian civilians to maintain its grip on Gaza and continue its war with Israel. The fact that Palestinian suffering is not mentioned once in the document speaks volumes about the group’s priorities.
Hamas’s demands in exchange for hostages are equally troubling. The group has reportedly called for the release of over 100 terrorists currently serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. These individuals are seen as crucial to the rebuilding of Hamas’s military leadership, which has been severely damaged by Israeli military operations during the ongoing conflict.
