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The Hamas movement deliberately sent several messages to U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the handover of three Israelis in the fifth prisoner exchange.

They chose to carry out the handover in the Deir al-Balah area, in the center of the Gaza Strip, for the first time since the start of the exchange operation.

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Previous exchanges had taken place in the northern Gaza Strip and Khan Younis in the south, where the destruction was evident. However, during today’s handover, the homes appeared to be in normal condition, as the destruction had not reached this area.

Trump had previously considered that the destruction in Gaza made it uninhabitable for long periods.

Additionally, the handover took place in an area where local residents, including children, women, and the elderly, were visible. Hamas may have tried to send a message through the clear presence of armed fighters, most of whom appeared to be young men.

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The fighters were wearing military uniforms and carrying various types of weapons, including machine guns, sniper rifles, and anti-tank rocket launchers known as “Yassin” and “Cornet”.

One of the fighters had written on his “Yassin” rocket launcher the phrase “mind your own business and don’t interfere in others’ affairs.”

The fighters formed a human shield between the local population and the area where the three Israelis were handed over to the Red Cross.

Among the fighters, a soldier who had lost a leg could be seen.

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Trump had previously stated that Gaza would not pose a threat to U.S. soldiers if they entered, considering it to be “empty of residents.”

On a large banner at the hostage handover platform, Hamas had written “We are the next day” in Arabic, English, and Hebrew.

Beneath the platform, there was a large image of destroyed Israeli tanks and armored vehicles, with a picture of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a red triangle, his hand on his cheek, and above it in Hebrew the phrase “Absolute Victory,” which Netanyahu had used to describe the Gaza war.

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Throughout the conflict, Hamas had released videos showing the targeting of Israeli tanks, soldiers, and military vehicles with the red triangle.

Deir al-Balah is located on Al-Rashid Street, which connects the north and south of the Gaza Strip, and from which Israel is expected to complete its withdrawal tomorrow.

During the handover, a meeting was held with the hostages, who sent messages to Netanyahu urging him to finalize the hostage agreement, emphasizing that this was the only way to secure their release, while thanking Hamas for preserving their lives.

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