An elderly Israeli captive, who was recently released by Hamas, shared that the Hamas fighters had promised not to harm hostages, citing their belief in the Quran.
Yocheved Lifshitz, aged 85, was one of two elderly women released on Monday night, while around 220 hostages, including their husbands, remain in Hamas’ custody.
She disclosed that she was initially hurt during her abduction and transfer to Gaza on October 7, but her treatment improved during her two-week captivity in the Palestinian enclave.
Describing the ordeal, Lifshitz, appearing frail and seated in a wheelchair outside a Tel Aviv hospital after her release, explained that Hamas militants had forcefully entered her kibbutz, Nir Oz, taking residents by surprise.
“They stormed into our homes, beat people, and kidnapped others, regardless of age,” she said.
Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, reported that a third of Nir Oz’s 400 residents were believed to have been abducted or killed on October 7, though no official figure has been provided. On that day, Hamas fighters are said to have killed 1,400 people in total, according to Israel.
Lifshitz herself was transported on a motorcycle into nearby Gaza, where she recounted being subjected to rough handling.
Inside Gaza, she and a group of hostages were led through a complex network of damp tunnels built by Hamas beneath the territory, eventually reaching a large hall.
“When we arrived, they assured us that they respected the Quran and would not harm us,” she recounted.
Lifshitz, along with five others from her kibbutz, were held together, each with an individual guard who remained with them around the clock. They received medical care and necessary medicines, and the wounded were well taken care of.
A video of her release showed her extending her hand to shake that of a masked captor, to which she explained, “They treated us kindly and fulfilled our needs.”
In a conversation with Reuters, her grandson mentioned that Lifshitz was a peace activist who had previously assisted sick Palestinians in Gaza in receiving medical treatment in Israel, meeting them at the main border crossing and driving them to hospitals.
Lifshitz criticized the Israeli military on Tuesday for not adequately protecting southern communities from the Hamas attack, expressing disappointment in the army’s response.
“We were left to fend for ourselves,” she said, adding that a costly security fence meant to provide protection had proven ineffective.
Hamas has released four hostages thus far, and Israel’s military dropped leaflets in Gaza offering rewards and protection to Palestinians with information about the hostages.
