Hamas Hostage Handover Highlights the Dominance of Hate in Gaza

Hamas orchestrated a disturbing display during the handover of the remains of two toddlers, their mother, and another hostage on Thursday — turning this tragic event into what the terrorists likely view as a “propaganda success.”

The civilized world can only witness this grotesque act as further proof that hatred dominates Gazan society.

Instead of facilitating a simple and respectful transfer of innocent lives, the terrorists staged a perverse procession of the coffins in a cemetery in Khan Younis, cheered on by a crowd of adulating civilians.

In light of such scenarios, one must question: How do we define Hamas?

Is it merely the thugs in green headbands — or does it encompass everyone who eagerly participated in this abhorrent spectacle?

The footage of the initial kidnapping of Shiri Bibas along with her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, has long served as a testament to the brutal savagery of Hamas’ terror attacks on October 7, 2023.

Now, Hamas has provided new evidence of its own depravity by manipulating the return of their bodies alongside that of 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz.

In an appalling twist, it appears that the terrorists did not even return Shiri’s remains.

This grotesque production featured a banner depicting Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu as a fanged, blood-stained vampire, with labels on the coffins: for the deceased boys, inscriptions falsely claiming, “They were killed by USA bombs”; for the adults, inscriptions asserting their “date of arrest” as October 7, as though Hamas’ conduct on that day could be anything less than horrific atrocities.

This event reinforces the notion that Hamas must be eradicated — but what about the Gazans who witnessed and applauded this display on Thursday?

The harsh reality is that the world has permitted — with the assistance of the United Nations — Arab governments to transform the approximately 700,000 Palestinian refugees from 1948 into a stateless population of 5 million, raised from birth to despise and dehumanize Israelis and Jews.

At this juncture, the cycle will not break spontaneously: If Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and their ilk are removed from Gaza, it is almost certain that another group of villains will step in immediately.

No wonder a majority of Israelis support President Trump’s proposal for the mass evacuation of Gaza’s population after the conflict, with no right of return.

No one possesses the clear means or will to enforce such a solution, but one can rely on Hamas to continue to showcase the severity of the situation in as painful a manner as possible: Anticipate that Saturday’s planned release of six additional live hostages, along with next week’s transfer of more remains, will be just as appalling.