An 85-year-old Israeli woman, Yocheved Lifshitz, was released by Hamas militants in Gaza after being held captive for over two weeks. She was abducted during Hamas’ attack on Israel earlier this month, where she was transported by a motorbike and sustained some bruises and breathing difficulty. Lifshitz and some other Israeli hostages were released on Monday night after mediation by Qatar and Egyptian Gov.
Lifshitz’s release has been widely reported in the media, not only because of her age but also because of a photograph that shows her shaking hands with a Hamas gunman. In an interview with The Guardian, Lifshitz explained why she shook hands with her captor: “Because they offered me their hand, and I’m not going to be rude”.
Although Lifshitz described her experience as having been through hell, a situation that was unimaginable for her and her fellow hostages, she also acknowledged that, to her surprise, the Hamas militants treated her and the others “gently” during their captivity. Upon arriving at the tunnel, she was told by her captors that she would not be harmed because they believed in the Quran.
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Lifshitz said the hostages slept on mattresses inside the tunnels, received treatment for their injuries. The hostages’ basic sanitary needs, especially of women, were taken care of, and they were provided with a modest daily ration, including pita bread, hard cheese, low-fat cream cheese, and cucumbers.
It was a revelation that raises questions about the human side of a group often associated with violence and terrorism. She was dismissive of the Israeli government’s border protection measures, saying the abductors easily blew up the fences “that cost 2 million dollars to build but didn’t help with anything” .
Hamas’ assault on the festival near the Gaza border in southern Israel was part of a broader sneak attack by the group against the country on a day deemed by President Joe Biden as the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust.
The release of Lifshitz and other hostages has been welcomed by many around the world. However, there are still over 200 Israeli and foreign nationals held captive by Hamas militants in Gaza. Diplomatic efforts to free them are intensifying as reports suggest that a significant number may be freed imminently. Though Israel continues to intensify its bombardment of Gaza in an attempt to exert more pressure on Hamas, experts warn that negotiations are likely to be the only way to obtain their freedom.
