Inside the Hamas Spider's Web - The story of a freed hostage
The 85-year-old captivated journalists at aTel Aviv hospital, giving measured details about her kidnap - her wheelchair submerged in a sea of microphones and TV cameras.
In the almost unrelenting horror of the Middle East crisis there has been one bit of good news. As we record this podcast – news organisations around the world are reporting the release of two hostages... two elderly women. Yocheved Lifschitz was taken into Hamas tunnels under Gaza, and was held there for two weeks. At a news conference in Tel Aviv after her release, she gave measured details about her kidnap by Hamas. She described how the attackers kidnapped her from her house in Kibbutz Nir Oz, carrying her to Gaza on a motorbike, punching her and hitting her with sticks.
In Gaza, she said she was treated well, had a mattress to sleep on, and one meal a day of pitta bread, cheese and cucumber. She also said a doctor was sent to examine them every few days. In this episode of our 5 Minutes On podcast, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Katya Adler reflects on her story - one that offers precious information for Israel's security forces, relief to her family, and to the relatives of those still held there, a longed-for glimpse of hope.
(Image Credit: Sultan EPA)
