A LONDONER whose mother was released after being taken captive by Hamas terrorists and held in tunnels under Gaza today called for the other hostages to be released.
Sharone Lifschitz, from Walthamstow, said her mother Yocheved Lifshitz was doing well after being freed from her “hellish” ordeal last night.
The 85-year-old told how she and her husband were held in a “spider web” of tunnels under the Palestinian city after being kidnapped from their homes in the Nir Oz kibbutz on October 7.
Mrs Lifschitz added she had “been through hell” and, referring to the other hostages taken by Hamas, felt “the story’s not over until everybody comes back”.
Speaking in Hebrew, with her daughter translating, she told reporters this morning that they were hit with sticks by Hamas militants and taken into Gaza on the back of a motorbike, with her legs on one side and her hands on the other. The elderly hostages were then forced to walk for several kilometres on the wet ground of the tunnels.
She added that it was “hell” but said the militants had treated them “gently” and “looked after our needs”. There was a guard for each of the five people being held hostage in her group. Mrs Lifschitz said that while being held in the tunnels, her group was given white cheese and cucumber to eat.
Mrs Lifschitz said that Hamas seemed “really prepared” and it appeared that they had planned the assault for “a long time”. She was released alongside fellow Israeli citizen Nurit Cooper, 79. But their husbands, including Sharone Lifschitz’s father, Oded, 83, remained captive with more than 200 other civilians.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Only £65k a month to live like Boy George
The Karma Chameleon singer listed his house for £17m in 2022, turning down offers. Now, he's looking for a tenant
Welcome to London, unicorn capital of Europe
We're flying far ahead of anywhere outside US for tech investment
Arteta's Arsenal evolution The next phase
Malik Ouzia and Simon Collings assess how the Spaniard will try to bring down Man City after he signs up for another three years with the title in his sights
Title fight catches fire after Gunners embrace dark side
Arsenal-City clashes take on a welcome edge of animosity
Whack the hippy gong-boho's back
It happened in Paris one grey February day. Sienna Miller was in an oversized, black leather jacket, lace-trimmed silk slip and clumpy great wedges.
There's a Starlink waiting in the sky... 7,000 in fact.Can Elon Musk stop them crashing to Earth?
As he was preparing his fields for seeding this year, Barry Sawchuk came across a giant slab of space debris. It had come from a spacecraft belonging to Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX.
'Politicians are only into power-mongering, corruption and cronyism'
We speak to alt revolutionary DEEPAK CHOPRA about biomarkers, his digital twin and his work to save humanity from disease
I've been waiting for a production of Godotthis brilliant all my life
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati bring a potent, tragicomic chemistry to James Macdonald’s rich revival of Samuel Beckett’s challenging play.
Trust me, the Ritz is London's bestrestaurant
To whom we turn in moments of gloom and glory can be instructive, a filter of our truest friends. I've fallen out with the Ritz a couple of times, including once after a visit to the bar which didn’t warrant a review (“But you said it was lovely!” they said.
'Healing is a dirty word'
After four traumatic years, FKA twigs is back with a new album -and a thrilling metamorphosis