An elderly Israeli hostage released by Hamas overnight said that she was treated well during her two-week captivity in the Palestinian enclave.
Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was one of two women freed late on Monday. She was a resident of Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip, where Hamas militants attacked on October 7.
Her husband, also in his 80s, is among over 200 hostages still being held in Gaza.
“They treated us gently and provided all our needs,” she said when asked why she reached out to shake the hand of a militant the moment she was freed.
Lifshitz described her captors as “very friendly” and “very courteous” people who held her with four other captives.
“They seemed ready for this. They prepared for a long time. They had everything that men and women needed, including shampoo,” she told journalists.
“We ate the same food they did — pitas with cream cheese, melted cheese, cucumbers. That was a meal for an entire day,” said Lifshitz.
Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was one of two women freed late on Monday. She was a resident of Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip, where Hamas militants attacked on October 7.
Her husband, also in his 80s, is among over 200 hostages still being held in Gaza.
“They treated us gently and provided all our needs,” she said when asked why she reached out to shake the hand of a militant the moment she was freed.
Lifshitz described her captors as “very friendly” and “very courteous” people who held her with four other captives.
“They seemed ready for this. They prepared for a long time. They had everything that men and women needed, including shampoo,” she told journalists.
“We ate the same food they did — pitas with cream cheese, melted cheese, cucumbers. That was a meal for an entire day,” said Lifshitz.
