The videos depicting the alleged surrender of individuals in Gaza have raised concerns about the circumstances and intentions behind the recording. Israeli media presented visuals over the weekend, suggesting that Hamas militants were surrendering to the IDF in southern Gaza's Khan Younis. However, independent researchers have identified several civilians among the detainees, leading to questions about the authenticity and potential staging of the videos.
Two video clips showed a middle-aged man, partially dressed, following instructions offscreen and laying down his weapon. Despite slight differences between the clips, it is suggested that they represent the same scene rather than being different takes. The man can be seen laying down multiple weapons, implying that the sequence unfolded over time rather than being a staged production.
The footage, showing around 50 naked Palestinians holding identity cards, was likely filmed outside the Abu Hussein School run by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRWA) in the Jabalia refugee camp. Reports also mentioned an UN-run school near the Indonesian Hospital in the same area.
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor identified at least seven civilians among the detainees, including UNRWA school director Darwish Gharbawy, UN staff Ahmed Akram Lubad, and two 15-year-old boys. Other images on Telegram and pro-Israeli accounts depicted captured individuals near an Israeli armored vehicle, prisoners being transported, and blindfolded Palestinians.
As criticism mounted, Israeli authorities stated that "military-aged men" were detained for identification and questioning, emphasizing that they were in a war zone they were supposed to have evacuated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that dozens of Hamas militants had surrendered, while Hamas denied such claims, asserting that their members do not surrender.
Human rights advocates, including Dr. Marc Owen Jones, described the filming of naked detained men as an "act of humiliation," suggesting it could amount to a war crime.
