War in the Middle East: Hostage after release: “I went through hell”

A freed Israeli hostage from the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip has described her abduction as a traumatizing experience. “I went through hell,” said 85-year-old Yocheved Lifschitz in Tel Aviv.

The terrorists raged in their kibbutz, killing and kidnapping people and making no distinction between the old and the young. Two men kidnapped her on a motorcycle. One of them hit her on the ribs several times during the trip to the Gaza Strip.

Terrorists carried out a massacre of civilians in Israel on October 7th on behalf of Hamas. More than 1,400 people in Israel died during the attack and in the days that followed. Militants kidnapped more than 200 people in the Mediterranean region.

Yocheved Lifschitz was kidnapped with her husband from the village of Nir Oz. The family doesn’t know what’s going on with her husband, as one daughter told journalists. He was injured.

Geisel: “They treated us well”

However, Yocheved Lifshitz also said that she was well cared for in captivity. “They treated us well.” A doctor checked on them every two or three days. A surprised man was given antibiotics and medication. They shared the food with members of Hamas. They tried very hard to keep the place clean.

Lifschitz and a second Israeli woman were released on Monday evening after more than two weeks of captivity. Pictures online show the woman shaking hands with a Hamas member. This gesture caused horrified reactions on social networks.

The 85-year-old said that she had also walked in tunnels under the Gaza Strip. Hamas created these tunnels. This tunnel system is “like a spider web”. When they arrived there were 25 prisoners in a large hall. They took her watch and jewelry.

Release for “humanitarian reasons”

According to Hamas, the release of the two women was brokered by Qatar and Egypt. The hostages were released “despite the crimes of the occupation” for “humanitarian reasons,” said Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida on the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Telegram channel.

There had previously been media reports about a possible imminent release of 50 hostages. There was initially no confirmation of this from either the US government or the International Red Cross. The New York Times had reported that Israel assumed that Hamas could release around 50 hostages who had not only Israeli but also other citizenship. Israeli media reported, citing a political representative, that they would not take part in a “selection” between foreign and Israeli hostages.

Israel thanks Egypt

Israel’s government thanked Egypt and the International Red Cross for their contribution. “We thank Egypt for its help and the Red Cross for its important role in saving lives,” it said. The army has also been “very active on all channels” in recent days to secure the release of the two hostages.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to push for the release of the Islamist Hamas hostages from the Gaza Strip, despite its planned ground offensive. “We are acting with every actor to free the abductees,” said Israel’s Energy Minister Israel Katz to the “Bild” newspaper. “We are doing everything we can to get her home.”

Fate of other hostages unclear

There was initially no confirmation from the USA that a large number of hostages might be released in the near future. National Security Council communications director John Kirby said Monday in Washington that he could not comment. In principle, with regard to the negotiations, “at this stage of the process it is not possible to publicly report on the ongoing efforts,” said Kirby. We will continue to work with partners in the region to do everything possible to ensure that the hostages are released.

The Israeli broadcaster i24news, citing the Red Cross, reported that the rescue service was on its way to receive a group of around 50 abductees with dual citizenship. An agreement could be reached within hours if no new obstacles arise, it said.

A mother and her daughter were unexpectedly released on Friday. Qatar had brokered the release of the two US citizens.