With a show of strength, Hamas sends a message about its grip on Gaza

Among the many striking images of the three Israeli hostages being released Sunday, the video of dozens of armed Hamas fighters in full combat gear at the handover location in Gaza City stands out.

The men, who surrounded the women as they were turned over to the Red Cross, were sporting almost new-looking combat fatigues and matching black balaclavas, with green bandanas featuring the Hamas logo tied around their head. 

They also arrived in a convoy of several white vehicles that appeared clean and barely damaged, standing out from the mass destruction of buildings around them.

While it was impossible to count exact numbers, there appeared to be dozens of gunmen surrounding the convoy, with many others scattered among the chaotic crowd that had come to watch.

It was the first major public appearance in months for the militant group that was responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel that killed some 1,200 people.

The attack ignited 15 months of war and a devastating Israeli bombing campaign that has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children.

The choreography at the handover site appeared to be well thought-out and designed to send messages to Hamas's adversaries as well as Palestinians, say those who've studied Israel's closest adversary.  

"They're attempting to show control," said Irwin Mansdorf, with the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. 

"It's their major achievement that even after all their losses and casualties, they still maintain control of Gaza. That's not a small thing," he told CBC News in Jerusalem. 

Despite the fact that the names of Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were late in being turned over to Israel, prompting a delay in implementing the ceasefire, the group appeared well prepared for their handover. 

Each of the women — who were held against their will for 470 days — were presented with what Israeli media have called a "gift bag" featuring the logo of Hamas's militant wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. 

Inside, there were reportedly photographs of the women in captivity, a small map of Gaza and a pendant. A Hamas videographer snapped images of them holding the bags before they sped off, and later published a video on social media.

While Hamas made an effort during the only other hostage release in November 2023 to portray the Israelis as guests rather than captives, this event was significantly more elaborate.

"It clearly was not meant for Israeli consumption," said Mansdorf, suggesting that Hamas is attempting to show Palestinians and others who sympathize with the group that the militants are compassionate actors, behaving in legitimate ways.