‘We ate bread, white cheese and cucumber, just like’ her Hamas captors, says Yocheved Lifshitz, 85
Ankara, October 23, 2023: An elderly Israeli woman released Monday from captivity with Hamas said she was treated well during her two weeks with the Palestinian group, reports Anadolu Agency.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, said Hamas provided her a doctor to monitor her health and worked to secure her medicine.
She added that her Hamas captors took care of her needs. “We ate bread, white cheese and cucumbers, just like them.”
“They told us they believe in the Quran and wouldn’t harm us,” she also said.
Asked why she shook hands with one of the Hamas members during her release, she said because they “treated us well and took care of all our needs.”
Late on Monday, Hamas’ military wing the Al-Qassam Brigades said it had released two Israeli captives – Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, 79 – for “compelling humanitarian reasons.”
An Al-Qassam spokesman said the release came through mediation with Qatar and Egypt.
This is the second release of a pair of captives since the conflict began on Oct. 7. The first release was of Americans.
The brigades said in an earlier statement that it is holding some 200-250 people in captivity, including Israeli soldiers and civilians.
