Hamas has produced dozens of manipulative hostage videos designed to pressure Israel, sway world opinion, and torment families.
By Hezy Laing
IDF soldiers discovered an indoor Hamas propaganda studio in Gaza used to film staged hostage videos, complete with green screens, lighting rigs, and scripts. The facility was uncovered during ground operations in Khan Yunis.
During a sweep of Hamas infrastructure in Khan Yunis, IDF forces uncovered a fully equipped indoor media studio used for producing propaganda content. The studio featured green screens, tripods, professional lighting, and scripted materials—indicating that Hamas had been filming staged hostage videos and other psychological warfare content in a controlled setting.
According to IDF reports and footage released, the studio was located inside a civilian building, further highlighting Hamas’s use of human shields and dual-use facilities. The discovery included costumes resembling IDF uniforms, props, and banners in broken Hebrew, which were likely used to simulate hostage handovers or manipulate public perception.
This studio was part of a broader Hamas media operation aimed at coercing hostages, manipulating international audiences, and undermining Israeli morale. Intelligence analysts noted that some of the videos released by Hamas—featuring hostages making scripted pleas or appearing in orchestrated settings—were likely filmed in this very facility.
The IDF’s exposure of the studio added to growing evidence of Hamas’s sophisticated propaganda tactics, which include editing footage, staging scenes, and timing releases to coincide with diplomatic events or ceasefire negotiations.
Hamas has produced several manipulative hostage videos designed to pressure Israel, sway international opinion, and psychologically torment families. These videos often feature staged scenes, coached statements, and emotional exploitation.
Here are key examples of Hamas’s propaganda videos involving hostages:
Staged Remains Recovery – Ofir Tzarfati
On October 27, 2025, Hamas operatives were filmed by an IDF drone burying and then “discovering” the partial remains of Israeli hostage Ofir Tzarfati in Gaza City. The remains had already been recovered by the IDF in December 2023, making the staged “discovery” a deliberate deception aimed at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Hostages Forced to Watch Release Ceremony
On February 22, 2025, Hamas released a video showing hostages Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal being forced to watch as other captives were freed. The two men made coached pleas for their own release, which families described as psychological torture.
Sasha Trufanov’s Coerced Statement
In May 2024, Hamas published a short clip of hostage Sasha Trufanov, announcing he would speak about his captivity. Analysts noted the video’s scripted tone and its timing—just before ceasefire talks—as part of a broader strategy to exploit hostages for leverage.
Female Hostages in Emotional Appeals
Videos featuring Yelena Trupanob, Danielle Aloni, and Rimon Kirsht showed them making emotional appeals under duress. Experts described these clips as cruel and manipulative, designed to provoke public pressure on Israeli leadership.
Green-Screen Studio Footage
Though not publicly confirmed in full detail, IDF troops reportedly discovered an indoor Hamas media studio in Khan Yunis with green screens, lighting rigs, and scripts, believed to be used for filming staged hostage videos and other propaganda content.
These videos are part of Hamas’s psychological warfare strategy, aiming to destabilize Israeli society, influence global media narratives, and extract political concessions. They often coincide with diplomatic events or hostage negotiations, amplifying their emotional impact.
