An elderly woman held hostage for 16 days by Hamas terrorists explained that she wished them peace despite going 'through hell' because 'they treated us very nicely.' They were among more than 200 people taken into Gaza on October 7.
Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, were released by Hamas on Monday. They were among more than 200 people taken into Gaza on October 7. Israel-Palestine war LIVE:An elderly woman held hostage for 16 days by Hamas terrorists today explained why she wished them peace despite going 'through hell.'
This is despite her admitting that the Hamas terrorists viciously attacked her community in their homes on October 7, and that she was beaten with a stick as she was being taken into Gaza. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, who was released as hostage by Palestinian Hamas militants, is seen with her husband Oded, 83, who is still being held
'One of the men was badly injured by a motorbike accident on the way, he was treated by paramedics. They kept the place clean, they were very concerned about them.' She was taken into Gaza via the notorious underground tunnels used by Hamas, after her jewelry and her watch was taken off her.Sharone said that she was first taken to Abasan al-Kabira, near Kibbutz Be’eri and Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip. After that, she did not know to where she was taken.
'Three weeks ago, masses arrived at the fence. The IDF did not take it seriously. We were left to fend for ourselves. The lack of knowledge in the IDF and the Shin Bet severely affected us. Yocheved, along with fellow hostage Nurit Cooper, were abducted from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre, while their husbands remain in Gaza as hostages.The elderly women have since been handed over to the Israel Defense Forces custody and are currently in Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
'While I cannot put into words the relief that she is now safe, I will remain focused on securing the release of my father and all those - some 200 innocent people - who remain hostages in Gaza.' 'She seems okay. It's really hard to know what to hope for, so much is lost. To see my mum again is an incredible thing, to hold her hand, to kiss her face and her cheek.
'His whole life was the idea that we have to find a way to live together. He felt that it was very easy to find a way, and was very disappointed and fought very hard against this idea of occupation, of perpetual war. Ms Lifshitz shared her story with MailOnline earlier this month, in the hope to spread awareness and bring her parents home.
She issued a chilling plea at the time, saying: 'This is our moment of reckoning. It's bigger than the Yom Kippur War, it's bigger than 9/11. This is what Israel was founded for, so we weren't running or hiding, or shot in our own homes and chased to our deaths. But it is happening. 'The time is short and it is running out - they will not survive. We cannot sit here and talk about who's done what. Not until we've brought them home.
A spokeswoman said: 'Our thoughts remain with the families of loved ones still being held captive, as they endure unimaginable anguish and worry at this time. Reuters reported on Monday that the US is keeping Doha in the loop of negotiations with Israel to delay its ground assault, as Washington tried to free more hostages and prepares for a wider conflict across the region to begin.
READ MORE: Obama criticizes Israel for cutting off water and food supply to Gaza Advertisement It comes as Hamas is reportedly planning to release 50 hostages with dual citizenship from the Gaza Strip, sources in Gaza told Israel media on Monday. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari did not deny the report, according to The Times of Israel. An earlier report by the New York Times said that the Israeli government believe Hamas may release about 50 hostages who are dual citizens - but that a ground invasion would hinder their release.
Thomas White, the Gaza director of the UN agency for refugees, UNRWA, said on Monday that the humanitarian agency has only three days of fuel left for its trucks. Khaled Meshaal, one of the key negotiators of the terrorist organisation, has said that over 200 hostages held by the group could be released if Israel reduces the intensity of the bombing in Gaza.
Khaled Meshaal is a powerful figure within Hamas, revered as a living martyr after surviving an Israeli attempt to assassinate him almost three decades ago. They are receiving medical treatment, the governor of Illinois said, without providing details of their condition. The deal to free the pair was brokered by Qatar.
Natalie Raanan and her mother Judith are seen speaking to Joe Biden, in a photo released on Friday night by the US embassy in Israel 'And hopefully I will see them next week. Next week is Natalie's birthday, and we will celebrate it here.'
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