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        <h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Was Al-Qassam Fighter Who Released Israeli Captives a Woman? - Fact Check</h1>November 25, 2023</div>

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<img src="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Qassam_womanfighter_video.png" alt="" title="Qassam_womanfighter_video" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" width="391" height="262" style="margin-right: 25px;">
The Al-Qassam fighter who released Israeli captives may be a woman. (Photo: video grab)

<p><strong>By <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/palestine-chronicle-staff" title="Display all articles for Palestine Chronicle Staff">Palestine Chronicle Staff</a></strong>  </p>
<blockquote>
<h3><span>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.</span></h3>
</blockquote>
<p><span>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.</span></p>
<p><span>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. </span></p>
<p><span>Social media users, however, noted that the eyes and the hands of the fighter are those of a woman, not a man.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Quickly, </span><a href="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/"><span>Arab media</span></a><span>
 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. </span></p>
<p><a href="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"><span>Sputnik Arabic</span></a><span>, for example, noted that that particular fighter remained mostly with the Israeli women and children.</span></p>


<p><span>Others cited released Israeli captives who had earlier spoken about how they were constantly looked after by women, not men. </span></p>
<p><span>Al-Qassam Brigades is known to have a unit of women among its ranks, although the role of these women remains unclear.</span></p>


<p><span>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. </span></p>
<p><span>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. </span></p>
<p><span>While The Palestine Chronicle cannot confirm or deny that the 
fighter in reference was, indeed, a woman, that claim is likely to be 
true. </span></p>
<p><span>If Israeli captives are allowed to speak freely to the media, they are likely to substantiate the accuracy of the claim.</span></p>
<p><i><span>(The Palestine Chronicle)</span></i></p>

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