85-Year-Old Israeli Woman Recounts “Hellish” Two-Week Ordeal After Being Taken Hostage by Hamas

An 85-year-old Israeli woman, Yocheved Lifshitz, has spoken out about her two-week ordeal after being taken hostage by Hamas. Lifshitz, who was released late Monday, said that she was initially beaten and thrown on a motorbike but was later cared for and treated kindly by her abductors.

Speaking to reporters outside a Tel Aviv hospital, Lifshitz said that she had been through “hell” and that her captors had beaten her in the ribs with sticks, making it difficult to breathe. However, she also said that the Hamas militants “were gentle with us” while she was imprisoned in the “spider web” of tunnels under the Gaza Strip.

In a remarkable moment of reconciliation, footage released by the militant group showed Lifshitz shaking the hand of one of the armed, balaclava-clad militants and uttering the Hebrew salutation “shalom”, which means “peace”.

Lifshitz was released late Monday with fellow prisoner Nurit Cooper, 79. However, their husbands, who were among more than 200 people Israel said were taken hostage during Hamas’ Oct. 7 raid on the country, remain missing.

The release of Lifshitz and Cooper has been welcomed by Israeli officials, who have called for the safe return of all hostages. The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas, which have been ongoing for decades.