Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was one of two women freed on Monday
An elderly Israeli hostage who was released by Hamas said she was thrashed by the Gaza-based outfit as she was taken into their territory on October 7, but was then well-treated during her two-week captivity, news agency Reuters reported today.
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Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was one of two women freed on Monday, leaving around 220 hostages still in the hands of Hamas. Seated in a wheelchair, a frail looking Ms Lifshitz told reporters that a doctor had visited her while she was held in a network of tunnels within Gaza and that all her needs had been taken care of.
"I've been through hell, we didn't think or know we would get to this situation. When I was on the bike, my head was on one side and the rest of my body on the other side. The young men hit me on the way. They didn't break my ribs, but it was painful and I had difficulty breathing," she told reporters, adding the Israeli military had not taken the threat of Hamas seriously enough, and that the costly security fence meant to keep Hamas out "didn't help at all".
The other hostage who was released by Hamas is Nurit Cooper, 79; she, Ms Lifshitz and their octogenarian husbands were among the hostages kidnapped on October 7. Hamas released Ms Cooper and Ms Lifshitz citing "compelling humanitarian" reasons, after mediation by Qatar and Egypt. Their release comes days after two other women - American citizens - were freed.
Israel's Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari today said the military was "ready and determined" for the next stage in the war and was awaiting political instruction. He said Israel was learning from the US experience in the Middle East, but "our war is on our borders, not thousands of miles from Israel," adding that he was expecting weeks of fighting ahead.
The Qatari ruler hit out at Israel's backers today, charging they had given it "free licence to kill" in its war with Hamas and questioning what the conflict would achieve. Major powers, including the US, Britain and France, have rallied to support Israel and affirmed its right to defend itself.
"We are saying enough is enough," Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani told a meeting of the Shura Council, Qatar's legislative body, according to a translation released by the royal court. "It is untenable for Israel to be given an unconditional green light and free licence to kill, nor is it tenable to continue ignoring the reality of occupation, siege and settlement."
French President Emmanuel Macron on a solidarity visit to Israel today said saving hostages held by Hamas in Gaza must be the "first objective" of the military campaign but stressed the need to stop the conflict spreading.
"The first objective we should have today is the release of all hostages, without any distinction, because this is an awful crime to play with these lives of children, adults, old people, civilians and soldiers," Mr Macron said after meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.
Macron will propose relaunching a "genuine peace process", with the aim of creating a viable Palestinian state in exchange for guarantees from regional powers towards "Israel's security", his office said.
The fear of history repeating itself has been stoked as Israel has waged war on Hamas since the Gaza group killed 1,400 Israelis in the October 7 attack on southern Israel. The Nakba, or "catastrophe", is how the Arab world refers to the exodus or forced displacement of 7.6 lakh Palestinians in the war that led to the creation of Israel 75 years ago.
With inputs from AFP and Reuters
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