Part 13/15:
Hamas responded with outright celebration, branding the recognition as a "victory" and a clear message to Israel. A senior Hamas figure praised it as demonstrating the "justice of their cause," demanding that recognition be paired with tangible measures like halting Israeli annexation and ending what they term a "genocidal war in Gaza."
Adding to the turbulence, Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades released a chilling photo of the 48 remaining Israeli hostages, including the long-missing Ron Arad, an Israeli Air Force navigator who vanished over Lebanon decades ago. The move marked a stark warning: Hamas claims that Israeli hostages are dispersed throughout Gaza, and their fate hinges on Israel's military actions, which Hamas interprets as a strategic leverage point.