85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz on Tuesday revealed how the Hamas treated her and other Israelis whom they had abducted during the ongoing war in Gaza and gave a detailed account of her days in captivity.
Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper (80) are the two elderly women released by the Hamas militant group after being held hostage during the October 7 surprise attacks from Gaza on Israel.
Lifshitz speaks to the media
“I’ve been through hell, we didn’t think or know we would get to this situation," Lifshitz recalled but she went on to reveal that the Hamas treated her and other female hostages "gently".
"They seemed really prepared for it. They had concealed it for a long time, and they took care of all the needs that people need, [such as] shampoo and conditioner.
"They gave us pitta bread, hard cheese, some low-fat cream cheese and cucumber and that was our food for the entire day," Lifshitz told the media in Tel Aviv.
“I was kidnapped on a motorbike on my side while they were driving toward Gaza. They didn't break my ribs but it was painful and I had difficulty breathing," she added.
'Hamas were friendly'
Lifshitz also said that the Hamas militants "were friendly and they kept the place very clean."
"My mum is saying they were very delicate and caring with them, and took care of all their needs," Lifshitz's daughter Sharone told reporters.
The International Committee of the Red Cross took them to the Rafah border, where they were handed over to Israeli officials.
Hostages released for humanitarian reasons
Hamas spokesman, Abu Obaida, in a statement, said: "We decided to release them for humanitarian reasons and health grounds.
He claimed that they released the hostages despite more than eight violations of the procedures by Israel that were agreed upon.
The husbands of the two women are still in the custody of Hamas. Discussions on the release of hostages are underway with Qatar and Egypt being brought on the negotiating table.
