Hamas's method of releasing hostages it captured from Israel during its October 7 attack is "psychological warfare" similar to the methods used by Nazi Germany during World War II, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said.
"Hamas is engaging in psychological warfare; they’re releasing two hostages and then another two hostages,” Doron Spielman told Fox News’s Your World with Neil Cavuto. "They’re putting out videos that are reminiscent of Goebbels and the Nazis where they’re handing out cookies to the hostages."
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"We remember the videos that... two and a half weeks ago, they were maiming and raping living and dead women along with all this other destruction. It's simply more of their propaganda," he added.
Spielman said that the IDF is doing everything it can to bring the hostages home, "but beating Hamas is the absolute priority." Without a complete eradication of the militant group, Spielman fears more hostages could be taken in the future, Hamas could regroup and launch another assault, and even attack another country.
IDF Spokesperson @DoronSpielman to Neil: We are going to eliminate Hamas. Anything short of that is leaving an opening for the next massacre around the corner pic.twitter.com/QXbskt7xdY
— Neil Cavuto (@TeamCavuto) October 24, 2023
"We will move forward with our goals, whatever cost it incurs, because we know that it will bring the long-term security that we have to have in this region."
Two elderly Israeli women were released by Hamas on Monday after being held hostage for over two weeks. Two American hostages were also released on Friday.
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Spielman's comments come as the IDF prepares to launch a ground offensive into Gaza, a mission that many fear would lead to many more Palestinian casualties as thousands have already been killed by Israeli airstrikes. However, the IDF has argued that the omnipresence of Hamas throughout all areas of Gaza necessitates such an operation.
Some Israelis, such as family members of those being held hostage, have scrutinized the lack of transparency from the IDF and alleged a precedence of eradicating Hamas over the well-being of the citizens being held captive in Gaza.