Rimon Kirsht, who was taken hostage on October 7th, has been released by Hamas, and she's now being called "iconic" for what she did when the terrorists tried to get her to perform for the cameras. 

In a now-viral video, Kirsht is seen standing up to a Hamas member and uttering something to him. She then cocks her head high and walks away while shielding one of her fellow hostages. The terrorists seem dumbfounded, still doing their best to play their parts in the propaganda video. 

This video of Rimon Kirscht (36,) kidnapped by #Hamas from kibbutz Nirim and released yesterday within the #hostages for security prisoners swap, went viral. For the context: her husband Yagev Buchstav is still held by Hamas in #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/qvIQ7NFffy

— Natasha Mozgovaya (@mozgovaya) November 29, 2023

That look Rimon Kirsht gave the Hamas terrorist. pic.twitter.com/H2MkPDOjJe

— Eli Kowaz (@elikowaz) November 28, 2023

There is a report that she said "No one will hug us now. We will leave here alone and with our heads held high" as a show of defiance against Hamas trying to get the hostages to perform for the cameras. In other videos, the terrorists can be heard telling hostages to wave and smile. I can't confirm as of this writing that she actually said that, though it would certainly be epic if true. 

Another report claims Kirsht initially refused to be released because she did not want to leave her husband behind. He is still being held by Hamas. The terrorists then threatened her, no doubt wanting the perceived leverage from splitting up families. It is both a negotiation tactic and a facet of psychological warfare for Hamas.

Part of that is the grotesque online propaganda campaign that has sought to paint Hamas as benevolent, humane captors. One Sky News journalist tried that line and ended up with a community note and a very large ratio. 

They were held in reasonable conditions, reportedly, though those held above ground lived with the fear of being killed in Israel's bombardment.

— Dominic Waghorn (@DominicWaghorn) November 28, 2023

Other claims have been even more insidious, including the idea that the hostages were thankful to Hamas. Others have spread memes supposing that one girl seen smiling (because she was commanded to) showed she was actually in love with one of the terrorists. 

That is the kind of pro-terror, antisemitic garbage that gets spread because some people can't accept that Israel is a country and will remain one. As to Rimon Kirsht, she's obviously a very brave woman. I pray that her husband is returned safely.