https://arab.news/v2377
- Freed woman describes her captors as 鈥榲ery courteous鈥� people
- Israel army offers Gazans financial rewards for hostage tip-offs
TEL AVIV: An Israeli 85-year-old freed by Palestinian militant group Hamas said Tuesday she 鈥渨ent through hell鈥� during her abduction, but was treated well during more than two weeks held captive in Gaza.
Yocheved Lifshitz was a resident of Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip which Hamas militants attacked on October 7.
鈥淚 went through hell, I didn鈥檛 think or know I鈥檇 get to this situation. They went on a rampage in our kibbutz, kidnapped me, lay me over a motorcycle... and sped off with me through the plowed fields,鈥� she said a day after her release.
鈥淭he guys beat me on the way, they didn鈥檛 break my ribs but hurt me there very much,鈥� Lifshitz said.
鈥淭hey treated us well,鈥� she told reporters at a Tel Aviv hospital, explaining a doctor visited her and fellow hostages every two to three days and provided medicines.
Her husband, also in his 80s, is among more than 200 hostages still being held in Gaza.
鈥淭hey treated us gently, and provided all our needs,鈥� she said, when asked why she reached out to shake the hand of a militant the moment she was freed.
Lifshitz described her captors as 鈥渧ery friendly鈥� and 鈥渧ery courteous鈥� people who held her with four other captives.
鈥淭hey seemed ready for this, they prepared for a long time, they had everything that men and women needed, including shampoo,鈥� she told journalists.
鈥淲e ate the same food they did 鈥� pitas with cream cheese, melted cheese, cucumbers. That was a meal for an entire day,鈥� said Lifshitz.
The octogenarian was released along with fellow Nir Oz resident Nurit Cooper, 79, three days after an American woman and her daughter were freed.
FINANCIAL REWARDS
The Israeli army deluged the Gaza Strip with leaflets on Tuesday urging residents to provide information about the hostages held by Hamas in return for financial rewards.
The messages were dropped by Israeli aircraft amid the waves of air strikes targeting Gaza, that Hamas health officials said have killed more than 5,000 people.
鈥淚f you want a better future for yourself and your children, do the right thing and send us safe and useful information about kidnapped people in your area,鈥� said the Arabic message on leaflets seen by AFP.
鈥淭he Israeli army promises to do everything to preserve your security and that of your homes, as well as a financial reward,鈥� the leaflet added. 鈥淲e guarantee you total discretion.鈥�
The document provided a telephone number along with details regarding Telegram, Whatsapp and Signal messaging services, where information could be sent about the hostages.
The Israeli army confirmed the launch of the effort.
鈥淎s part of the extensive efforts to free the Israeli and foreign national hostages held by the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza, the (army) today used multiple channels to communicate with the residents of Gaza and ask for information about the hostages,鈥� the army said in a statement.