An aged lady held hostage for 16 days by Hamas terrorists at the moment defined why she wished them peace regardless of going ‘by hell.’
Footage on Monday night confirmed Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, being handed over to the Pink Cross at Gaza’s Rafah crossing by black-clad masked Hamas gunmen.
‘It is okay, let’s go… it is okay, let’s go,’ says a Pink Cross Employee despatched to gather the 2 girls.
As she’s about to depart, Yocheved turns to one of many masked gunmen, reaching out her hand and says ‘shalom’, the Hebrew phrase for peace and concord.
The pair shake fingers, and bid farewell to one another, as Yocheved and Nurit are led away from the bandana-wearing gunmen.
Yocheved, wheelchair-bound and dressed head-to-toe in black, spoke to reporters from Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv along with her daughter, British citizen Sharone Lifshitz, 52, on Tuesday.
When requested why she shook the Hamas terrorist’s hand, she mentioned: ‘As a result of they handled us very properly.’
Yocheved (pictured, proper) went again and shook a Hamas terrorist’s hand
Yocheved mentioned she shook the hand of the Hamas terrorist as a result of they ‘handled us very properly’
Nurit Yitzhak and Yocheved Lifshitz arrive at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Heart after being held captive by Hamas since October 7
Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, who was launched as hostage by Palestinian Hamas militants, is seen along with her husband Oded, 83, who continues to be being held
Although a lot of the press convention was in Hebrew, her daughter answered a number of questions in English on her mom’s behalf.
Sharone mentioned: ‘My mum is saying they have been very delicate and delicate with them and took care of all their wants.
‘They appeared actually ready, like they’d hid it for a very long time. They took care of all the ladies’s wants, shampoo, conditioner.’
She added that her mom mentioned it wasn’t solely girls who have been nicely looked-after.
‘One of many males amongst them was badly injured by a motorcycle accident on the way in which, he was handled by paramedics. They saved the place clear, they have been very involved about them.’
‘My mum was saying she was taken on the again of a motorcycle, along with her legs on one aspect and her head on one other. She was taken by ploughed fields, with males on one aspect and males behind her.
‘Whereas she was taken, she was hit with sticks till they reached tunnels. There, they walked for a number of kilometres on the moist floor.’
Sharone mentioned her mom was taken into Gaza by way of the infamous underground tunnels after her jewellery and her watch was taken off her.
‘There are an enormous community of tunnels beneath, it regarded like a spiderweb.’
Sharone mentioned that she was first taken to Abasan al-Kabira, close to Kibbutz Be’eri and Khan Yunis within the south of the Gaza Strip. After that, she didn’t know to the place she was taken.
Yocheved spoke to dozens of reporters on the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv on Tuesday
She was returned by Hamas terrorists on Monday evening
Her daughter Sharone (pictured, left) answered a number of questions on her behalf
She was seen in excessive spirits on the press convention
Sharone mentioned that her mom was crushed with sticks by Hamas’ fighters when she was kidnapped
Yocheved was caught in a wheelchair, following her 16-day ordeal in Hamas’ fingers
Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper have been taken to a hospital shortly after they have been launched by Hamas
She added, on behalf of her mom: ‘After they arrived they arrived to a big corridor the place about 25 hostages have been gathered. After two or three hours 5 of them have been taken right into a separate room.
‘She mentioned they have been very pleasant in direction of them, they took care of them, they got drugs.
‘They took care of us, we are able to say that to our credit score. they made certain that we may very well be clear and eat, they gave us pita bread and exhausting cheese and low fats cream cheese and that was our meals for the whole day.’
She mentioned that every guard was assigned a prisoner, and they’d discuss and eat with them every single day.
On high of this, a physician would study the hostages every single day, and supply them with any mandatory treatment.
Sharone added that the terrorists have been surprisingly frightened about cleanliness: ‘They have been very involved with hygiene and have been frightened about an outbreak of one thing. We had bathrooms which they cleaned every single day,” she continued.’
‘My mum is saying they advised them they have been Muslims and that they are not going to harm them.
Regardless of her constructive perspective to the horrific state of affairs, she admitted: ‘I went by hell, that I couldn’t have identified.’
She mentioned that her watch and jewellery have been taken away from her
She mentioned ‘shalom’ to the masked gunman, the Hebrew phrase for peace or concord
She mentioned that she was disillusioned by the IDF’s fence failing to stop the assault on Israel
She mentioned her mom was disillusioned with Israel’s lack of preparation for the Hamas assault on October 7.
‘A swarm of individuals got here by the fence, which value 2.5 billion shekels (£500 million), and it did not assist even a bit of bit.
‘Three weeks in the past, lots arrived on the fence. The IDF didn’t take it significantly. We have been left to fend for ourselves. The lack of awareness within the IDF and the Shin Guess severely affected us.
‘We have been the scapegoats, they’d warned us three weeks earlier than however the lots got here to our roads and burnt our fields, they despatched balloons with fireplace they usually burnt our fields – the IDF did not take that significantly.
‘On Saturday morning, every thing was quiet after which there was enormous shelling on our group. it exploded the large fence that was there, they opened the gates of the kibbutz and entered on lots, that was very very powerful, I’ve all these photos in my thoughts.’
Sharone mentioned: ‘My mum could be very a lot hoping that every one the those that have been along with her will come again. And the story isn’t over till everybody comes again.
Each Yocheved and Nurit have been kidnapped from their properties in Kibbutz Nir Oz through the October 7 bloodbath, whereas their husbands stay in Gaza as hostages.
Yocheved, identified by mates as Yochi, was kidnapped from her house alongside her husband, Oded, 83.
The aged girls have since been handed over to the Israel Protection Forces custody and are at present in Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, the Prime Minister’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement.
Hamas mentioned it launched the pair for humanitarian causes, days after releasing an American lady and her teenage daughter.
Sharone confirmed the information of her mom’s rescue on Monday evening, admitting she ‘couldn’t put into phrases’ how ‘relieved’ she was.
She mentioned: ‘I can verify that my mom Yochi (Yocheved) Lifshitz was one among two hostages launched to the Pink Cross this night.
‘Whereas I can’t put into phrases the aid that she is now protected, I’ll stay targeted on securing the discharge of my father and all these – some 200 harmless folks – who stay hostages in Gaza.’
Sharone advised Radio 4 on Tuesday: ‘I arrived, my mum is asleep, she was given a capsule so I am but to have an actual dialog along with her.
Yocheved’s daughter, British citizen Sharone Lifshitz, 52, confirmed the information this night, admitting she ‘couldn’t put into phrases’ how ‘relieved’ she was
Nurit Cooper, 79, was additionally handed over to the Pink Cross on the Rafah crossing ‘a short while in the past’ and can ‘shortly be transferred’ to Israel, an official assertion mentioned
‘My brother’s along with her, my mum is okay, the nurses have been having a chat [with her], they mentioned she’s very sharp and she or he’s very eager to share info to households of different hostages she was with.
‘She appears okay. It is actually exhausting to know what to hope for, a lot is misplaced. To see my mum once more is an unbelievable factor, to carry her hand, to kiss her face and her cheek.
‘I am so happy with her, she’s wonderful. Simply the way in which she walked off after which got here again and mentioned “thanks” was fairly unbelievable to me, I have been taking a look at [the video] and it is simply… it is so her.
‘I am actually ready to have a little bit of high quality time along with her.’
‘She is aware of rather a lot about different [hostages]. There’s nonetheless over 200 folks there, and we should work in direction of the discharge of everyone.’
Sharone mentioned that as blissful as she is about her mom’s protected launch, she continues to be frightened about her father.
‘My mum would not know the place [my father] is,’ she advised Radio 4.
‘Each of them are very loving folks, household folks. The week earlier than, they’d over 20 folks visiting. They actually cherished internet hosting household.
Yocheved was seen assembly folks on the hospital she was taken to after her 16-day ordeal
Her daughter Sharone mentioned that regardless of her difficulties, she could be very keen to speak concerning the different hostages held by Hamas
Sharone mentioned she hasn’t but been capable of have a correct dialog with Yocheved but
Yocheved’s husband continues to be being held by Hamas terrorists
‘My father was very concerned in kibbutz politics. He was very concerned within the rights of Palestinians, and dealing in direction of peace with our neighbours.
‘His complete life was [dedicated to] the concept that we have now to discover a technique to reside collectively. He felt that it was very simple to discover a approach, and was very disillusioned and fought very exhausting towards this concept of occupation, of perpetual struggle.
‘I hope that he is there and that he is being sorted. There was a physician there, so this brings a variety of consolation to everyone.’
Ms Lifshitz, from London, had spoken to the media earlier on Monday about how she had not heard from both of her dad and mom since Hamas’s ambush greater than two weeks’ in the past that left 1,400 folks lifeless.
She described them as having advanced well being wants, telling Occasions Radio that her father had recorded hypertension the evening earlier than he was captured.
Ms Lifshitz shared her story with MailOnline earlier this month, within the hope to unfold consciousness and convey her dad and mom house.
The helipad the place Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz arrived is proven at Ichilov hospital
Officers collect to help the 2 girls
‘My father is 83 and my mom is 85. She wants oxygen and he has a lung illness. They can not survive on their very own on this setting’, she mentioned on the time.
‘What sort of individual would do that? In my life I simply can’t think about a sort of individual that might do that.
‘My father isn’t the enemy. He spent his retirement driving Palestinians from the border to and from the hospital. He isn’t the enemy. He believes in humanity in all folks.’
She issued a chilling plea on the time, saying: ‘That is our second of reckoning. It is greater than the Yom Kippur Conflict, it is greater than 9/11. That is what Israel was based for, so we weren’t working or hiding, or shot in our personal properties and chased to our deaths. However it’s occurring.
‘This complete place has been erased like a bit of Jewish village in wartime Russia. There isn’t any distinction. It doesn’t exist anymore.
In a clip shared of their launch, Yocheved might be seen crawling out the again of a white truck, earlier than strolling in direction of an ambulance with the assistance of two officers
Yocheved might be seen speaking to one of many officers as she has medical exams
Yocheved’s grandson Daniel mentioned he was feeling ‘very emotional and blissful’ of her return
‘Now isn’t the time to do something however battle for the protected return of our folks. As soon as they’ve returned, we are able to rise from the ashes. However we have to get these folks house.
‘The time is brief and it’s working out – they won’t survive. We can’t sit right here and speak about who’s executed what. Not till we have introduced them house.
‘The British Authorities should do every thing of their energy to assist the protected return of those folks. We do not need to ignite, we need to save.’
In one other clip shared of their launch, Yocheved might be seen crawling out the again of a white truck, earlier than strolling in direction of an ambulance with the assistance of two officers.
In the meantime Nurit is mendacity down and wheeled in an ambulance stretcher.
Each girls look like with out apparent bodily accidents as they’re checked and monitored by ICRC workers carrying vests bearing the pink cross.
The International, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace (FCDO) mentioned the division welcomed the discharge of two additional hostages, three days after an American lady and her teenage daughter have been let go.
A spokeswoman mentioned: ‘Our ideas stay with the households of family members nonetheless being held captive, as they endure unimaginable anguish and fear presently.
‘We’ll proceed to work tirelessly with Qatar, Israel and others to make sure all hostages come house safely.’
The FCDO’s assertion comes because the variety of British folks confirmed to have died in Hamas assaults has risen to 12.
Qatar is seen as a key mediator within the Center East battle, with Doha utilizing its ties to Hamas – quite a lot of figures from the Gaza-ruling group’s political wing are mentioned to reside within the nation – to barter for the discharge of about 220 hostages taken through the lethal assault on Israel greater than two weeks in the past.
Reuters reported on Monday that the US is holding Doha within the loop of negotiations with Israel to delay its floor assault, as Washington tried to free extra hostages and prepares for a wider battle throughout the area to start.
One US official mentioned the Biden administration, staying aware of Doha’s function as an middleman with Hamas, was holding Qatari officers knowledgeable of its recommendation to Israel in order that they’re totally up-to-speed as hostage negotiations proceed.
‘For now, there isn’t any clear roadmap or sequence of the steps in direction of full de-escalation. The precedence is on working to get the hostages out step-by-step,’ mentioned a supply briefed on the hostage negotiations.
Additional pleas for Hamas to surrender its hostages are anticipated to be made on Tuesday throughout a press convention with affected households on the Israeli Embassy in London.
It comes as Hamas is reportedly planning to launch 50 hostages with twin citizenship from the Gaza Strip, sources in Gaza advised Israeli media on Monday.
The Pink Cross has reportedly been dispatched to obtain the captives who have been kidnapped through the Islamist terror assault on Israel on October 7.
Qatar has taken a central function in mediating the handover which is ready to happen in Khan Yunis within the south of the Gaza Strip, based on Israel TV channel i24.
Israel has shunned bombarding the realm with a purpose to facilitate the switch, based on the sources within the Strip.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari didn’t deny the report, based on The Occasions of Israel. An earlier report by the New York Occasions mentioned that the Israeli authorities consider Hamas could launch about 50 hostages who’re twin residents – however {that a} floor invasion would hinder their launch.
Hamas, Qatar, Egypt, and Israel have been in talks in latest days over a proposal to launch a bigger group in return for a gradual circulation of humanitarian assist, together with gas, three officers aware of the talks mentioned.
However Israeli officers have additionally reportedly mentioned they need all hostages launched earlier than allowing the supply of gas. Israeli officers have additionally advised negotiators they consider Hamas and different militant teams might divert gas for army functions.
The negotiations have reached a complicated stage, however Israel hasn’t given approval for gas to be delivered to Gaza by way of Egypt, based on the three officers.
In the meantime, a senior Hamas chief claimed that the civilian hostages in Gaza might be freed if Israel meets the precise circumstances.
Khaled Meshaal, one of many key negotiators of the terrorist organisation, has mentioned that over 200 hostages held by the group may very well be launched if Israel reduces the depth of the bombing in Gaza.
‘Allow them to cease this aggression and one can find the mediators like Qatar and Egypt and a few Arab international locations and others will discover a technique to have them launched and we’ll ship them to their properties,’ he advised Sky Information.
He mentioned hostage releases can’t occur whereas Israel’s air offensive stays so intense.
Khaled Meshaal has claimed that the civilian hostages in Gaza might be freed if Israel meets the precise circumstances
Meshaal, one of many key negotiators of the terrorist organisation, has mentioned that over 200 hostages held by the group may very well be launched if Israel reduces the depth of the bombing in Gaza
‘We need to cease the random bombardments, the full destruction, the genocide in order that the al Qassam troopers can take them from their locations and hand them to the Pink Cross or whoever.
‘We’d like the precise circumstances to permit them to be launched.’
Meshaal repeated the declare that 22 hostages have died in Israeli airstrikes since being taken.
Hamas is not going to say which international locations they’re from however says most of the lifeless are Israelis.
He would additionally not be drawn on whether or not Hamas will cease hostage negotiations completely if Israel presses forward with a floor invasion of Gaza.
Khaled Meshaal is a robust determine inside Hamas, revered as a dwelling martyr after surviving an Israeli try and assassinate him virtually three a long time in the past.
It comes after an Illinois teenager launched on Friday by Hamas after 13 days in captivity is ‘doing very nicely,’ her father mentioned, with footage exhibiting the dramatic second she and her mom have been handed over to the Pink Cross.
Natalie Shoshana Raanan, 17, and her mom Judith Tai Raanan, 59, arrived again in Israel late on Friday, the Israeli authorities confirmed, having left Gaza by way of an Egyptian-controlled crossing.
The Raanans walked out of Gaza with out apparent seen bodily accidents, getting out of a automotive after which being surrounded by ICRC workers carrying vests bearing the pink cross. The pair then acquired right into a Pink Cross car and drove away.
They’re receiving medical therapy, the governor of Illinois mentioned, with out offering particulars of their situation. The deal to free the pair was brokered by Qatar.
Her brother, Ben, joked that he was ‘irritated’ as a result of she nonetheless regarded ‘like a supermodel’, regardless of her ordeal.
‘She’s doing good. She’s doing superb,’ mentioned Uri Raanan, 71, who lives within the Chicago suburbs, including that they didn’t talk about the place she was held or her circumstances in captivity.
‘She didn’t inform me something. However she advised me they deal with her good, and she or he was doing superb.
‘I’ll hug her and kiss her, and it’ll be the very best day of my life.’
Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan arrived again in Israel late on Friday, the Israeli authorities confirmed
Natalie Raanan and her mom Judith are seen talking to Joe Biden, in a photograph launched on Friday evening by the US embassy in Israel
Realizing Natalie might be able to rejoice her 18th birthday subsequent week at house with household and mates feels ‘fantastic. One of the best information,’ Uri Raanan mentioned.
He mentioned he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with family, and that each might be again within the U.S. early this week.
‘I spoke with my daughter earlier at the moment – she sounds good, and she or he appears to be like good,’ he advised a press convention exterior his house.
‘I spoke with President Biden. I thanked him for his concern, in releasing them. He was very good.
‘I spoke to Governor Pritzker and he was good.
‘And hopefully I’ll see them subsequent week. Subsequent week is Natalie’s birthday, and we’ll rejoice it right here.’
The daddy mentioned he first learnt of the attainable launch by Israeli tv, after which acquired a name from the IDF.
He described the final 13 days as ‘the worst state of affairs,’ including that he had been saved at midnight by their captors.
‘I didn’t sleep at evening and my head was all the time in Israel,’ he mentioned.
‘A lot of cellphone calls, plenty of TV. I have been glued to the television for 2 weeks, hoping for excellent news – and at last it got here.’
He added: ‘I didn’t lose hope. Praying, and simply ready for this second.’
Anthony Blinken, the Secretary of State, mentioned Hamas continues to be feared to be holding 10 Individuals hostage.
The Secretary of State revealed the quantity nonetheless lacking throughout a press convention by which he introduced the discharge of Judith and Natalie Raanan.
Blinken mentioned he had no additional info to supply on the ‘standing or situation’ of the Individuals nonetheless believed to be in Hamas custody following the October 7 terror assaults.
‘I can not communicate publicly concerning the particulars of those efforts, and I do know you perceive that, however the pressing work to free each single American, to free all different hostages continues – as does our work to safe the protected passage out of Gaza for the Individuals who’re trapped there,’ he mentioned.
‘On this specific occasion, I need to thank the Authorities of Qatar for his or her essential help.’
He additionally refused to remark additional on how the Raanans are doing after being handed over.
Israeli troopers carry the coffins of Sgt. Yam Goldstein and her father, Nadav, throughout their funeral in Kibbutz Shefayim
Israel have been holding funerals for these attacked within the Hamas bloodbath
A number of memorial websites have been arrange throughout Israel within the wake of the lethal Hamas assault on October 7
Israel responded to the Hamas bloodbath and hostage disaster by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing greater than 4,000 folks based on Hamas, and has mentioned it’s going to act to free the hostages whereas wiping out the fear group.
Israeli tanks and troops are massed close to the perimeter of the enclave for an anticipated floor invasion, calling on Palestinians to evacuate the north of Gaza, the place it says Hamas is dug in.
Israel has additionally mentioned that there might be no finish to its full blockade of the enclave except Israeli hostages are freed.
Hamas says it has some 200 hostages and that fifty extra are held by different armed teams within the enclave.
The group claimed greater than 20 hostages have been killed by Israeli air strikes, however has not given any additional particulars.
