‘Our Son Is a Human Shield’: Hamas Holding Some Hostages Above Ground in Gaza City Ahead of IDF Ground Operation

Latest Developments

Hostages Moved to Homes and Tents: Hamas has moved some Israeli hostages above ground into homes and tents to use as human shields and complicate the IDF’s operations in Gaza City, according to a September 14 report. Earlier this month, Hamas released a video of Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, showing him in the back seat of a car driving through what is believed to be Gaza City. His mother received confirmation that her son is now being kept above ground. “Today, I know that my son is a human shield. And to find out that your son is a human shield — that is rock bottom. We can’t breathe, there’s no air,” his mother said, pleading for the government not to move ahead with its planned Gaza City takeover. Hamas continues to hold 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.
Hamas Appoints New Military Commanders: Hamas has reportedly appointed four of its military commanders to lead the terrorist group’s field operations against the IDF in Gaza City. They include Izz ad-Din Haddad, head of Hamas’s military wing; Raed Saad, head of the Operations Division; Muhammad Odeh, head of the Intelligence Division; and Muhannad Rajab, a senior official in Hamas’s Gaza Brigade. In recent days, the IDF has intensified airstrikes on Gaza City, targeting high-rise buildings that it claims are being used by Hamas for surveillance.
Hamas Members Ask To Leave While Urging Civilians To Stay: The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) claimed on September 14 that some high-ranking Hamas officials in Gaza had submitted requests to Israel to allow them and their families to leave the Gaza Strip. At the same time, the Iran-backed terrorist group has urged residents not to heed the IDF’s evacuation orders and has threatened those who are leaving Gaza City for safe zones in southern Gaza. “The Hamas preacher at Friday prayers accused anyone leaving Gaza City of being a coward running from the battlefield,” one Gaza resident said. “But why doesn’t he tell Hamas leaders to surrender and release the Israeli hostages so this war can stop? We don’t want to leave either, but we have no choice.” The IDF estimated that 300,000 of Gaza City’s 1 million residents have already evacuated the city.

FDD Expert Response

“Israel should brace for Hamas to weaponize the narrative of hostage deaths in Gaza City. The group has long signaled it may accuse the IDF of killing captives in airstrikes, an allegation that, whether made up or not, carries immediate propaganda value. For Hamas, the truth is secondary; the goal is to deepen international outrage and erode Israel’s legitimacy.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“It is no surprise that while Hamas pressures ordinary Gazans to remain in combat zones, its leaders protect themselves. This behavior has characterized the conflict from day one. When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, it placed the lives of 2 million residents of the coastal enclave at risk while their leaders hid in tunnels and among civilians. Now, with an impending Israeli operation in Gaza City, Hamas is repeating the same strategy of safeguarding its own families and cadres while endangering Gaza’s civilian population.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst