[News] Was Al-Qassam Fighter Who Released Israeli Captives a Woman? - Fact Check

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palestinechronicle.com
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/was-al-qassam-fighter-who-released-israeli-captives-a-woman-fact-check/>
Was Al-Qassam Fighter Who Released Israeli Captives a Woman? - Fact
CheckNovember
25, 2023
------------------------------
The Al-Qassam fighter who released Israeli captives may be a woman. (Photo:
video grab)

*By Palestine Chronicle Staff
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/palestine-chronicle-staff>*

A ‘mysterious’ figure with the Al-Qassam Brigades unit, who handed over
Israeli and international captives, has ignited speculations in social
media and throughout the Arab world.

It all began when an Al-Qassam fighter was comforting an Israeli child, who
seemed in good health, while guiding him to a Red Cross vehicle at the
Rafah crossing in Gaza on Friday.

The Israeli child did not seem scared, and the Al-Qassam fighter seemed
particularly protective of the boy until he was lifted safely into the
vehicle.

Social media users, however, noted that the eyes and the hands of the
fighter are those of a woman, not a man.

Quickly, Arab media
<https://www.alquds.co.uk/%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84/>
picked up the story, raising the question, of whether the fighter, who
seemed to play a leadership role within the unit, was, in fact, a female.

Sputnik Arabic
<https://sputnikarabic.ae/20231125/%D8%B8%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%AE%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-1083466370.html>,
for example, noted that that particular fighter remained mostly with the
Israeli women and children.

Others cited released Israeli captives who had earlier spoken about how
they were constantly looked after by women, not men.

Al-Qassam Brigades is known to have a unit of women among its ranks,
although the role of these women remains unclear.

If the ‘mysterious’ Qassam fighter was indeed a woman, this suggests that
the Brigades’ women members are possibly involved in more than logistical
support and perhaps outright combat and sensitive missions as well.

A social media user, @Hlaqatar, wrote, in Arabic, “Brave Arab women. This
is the most decent of all Arab women, these are the female fighters of
Al-Qassam.” Other social media users, including many women, shared that
same sentiment.

While The Palestine Chronicle cannot confirm or deny that the fighter in
reference was, indeed, a woman, that claim is likely to be true.

If Israeli captives are allowed to speak freely to the media, they are
likely to substantiate the accuracy of the claim.

*(The Palestine Chronicle)*


(The Palestine Chronicle is a registered
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/about/> 501(c)3 organization, thus, all
donations are tax deductible.)
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