
Following the release ceremony of American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel on February 1, 2025, teens and children gathered around Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades terrorist who participated in the ceremony and have their photos taken with them. An Al-Qassam Brigades operative who oversaw the ceremony in which Siegel was handed over to the Red Cross, told Al-Jazeera’s reporter on the ground that once the war was over the masses came out in support of the resistance and chanted the names of Deif and the commanders of the brigades. He pledged to continue the resistance. A teen boy said that the resistance makes the people of Gaza proud. A teen girl, dressed in military fatigues took a selfie with Al-Qassam Brigade members and said: "Despite all the suffering and destruction, we are happy."
Al-Jazeera Reporter: "After [Siegel] was handed over [to the Red Cross], the people have gathered around the Al-Qassam Brigades members, and started to take keepsake photos with them. The Al-Qassam members are still here, and they are taking keepsake photos with the children, like I have said.
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"Let's talk to one of the Al-Qassam members here. He supervised handing [Siegel] over.
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Al-Qassam Member: "Netanyahu and his government tried to make the people hate the resistance, but once the war was over, the masses came out in support of the resistance, and chanted the names of Deif and the commanders of the Brigades."
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Al-Jazeera Reporter: "Will you continue with your resistance?"
Al-Qassam Member: "Yes, even if a new war is imposed on us. We will continue and the people are standing by the resistance."
Boy: "Long live the resistance!"
Al-Qassam Member: "Long live the resistance!"
Al-Jazeera Reporter: "Hello, you are united around the Resistance..."
Boy: "Correct. The resistance makes us proud. It is the crown on our head. May Allah protect them."
Al-Jazeera Reporter: "We can see that this girl put on military fatigues, and she is taking keepsake photos with the Palestinian resistance. Hello, tell us why you are here."
Girl: "I've come here, because I am very happy. This is a day of victory for us. Despite all the suffering and destruction, we are happy. Allah be praised."
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Al-Jazeera Reporter: "As we can see, the people are still gathering and continuing to take photos.
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"Even the children, as we can see, love the resistance, and love these men who were fighting the occupation army for many days."