Two and a half weeks after the attack on Israeli civilians, Hamas terrorists released two hostages on Monday: women aged 85 and 79. The older of the two, Jocheved Lifschitz, issued a statement on Tuesday saying, “I’ve been through hell!”
According to Hamas, the women were released for “humanitarian reasons.” The release came after mediation by Qatar and Egypt.
Lifschitz, 85, said in Tel Aviv on Tuesday that she was initially beaten by the extremists when she was kidnapped on October 7. The terrorists rampaged through their kibbutz, killing and kidnapping people and making no distinction between old and young.
Two men kidnapped her on a motorcycle. One of them hit her several times in the ribs during the trip to the Gaza Strip. She “went through hell,” Lifschitz said.
Good treatment while held hostage in a tunnel network
However, they were sheltered during their two weeks of captivity in the tunnel network in the Gaza Strip. “They treated us well.” A doctor came every two to three days. A surprised man was given antibiotics and medicine. They shared the food with members of Hamas. They tried very hard to keep the place clean.
This tunnel system is “like a spider web”. When they arrived, there were 25 prisoners in a large room. They took her watch and jewelry. Online photos show the woman shaking hands with a Hamas member after her release. This gesture caused shocked reactions on social networks.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the second hostage released is 79-year-old Nurit Cooper. The two Israeli women are from Kibbutz Nir Oz and were taken hostage along with their 80-year-old husbands during the major Hamas attack on October 7.
More than 200 abductees are still being held hostage by Hamas
According to Netanyahu’s office, the two spouses are still being held in the Gaza Strip along with more than 200 other hostages. The family does not know what is going on with her husband, a daughter told journalists. He was injured. On Friday, Hamas released two hostages for the first time, two American citizens.
Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida had earlier said the two women had been released “for compelling humanitarian reasons.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross, for its part, said it had assisted in the release of the two hostages by “getting them out of Gaza this evening.”
1,400 Israelis murdered, more than 200 kidnapped
During their assault on Israeli territory, the heavily armed Islamists kidnapped more than 200 people as hostages in the Gaza Strip – including babies, children, pregnant women, soldiers and foreigners. Foreign citizens are also included.
About 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack, according to Israeli government figures. In response to the major attack, Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip and launched massive airstrikes. The Palestinian side speaks of almost 6,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
