Yocheved Lifshitz, an 85-year-old resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, became the first of four hostages released so far to speak publicly about the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists that led to her captivity. On Tuesday at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Lifshitz recounted how armed assailants broke through Israel’s border fence, overran multiple communities, killed more than 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians, and captured more than 200 Israelis and foreigners, bringing them back to the Gaza Strip as hostages.
Her husband, Oded Lifshitz, 83, remains in captivity. The couple were peace activists, and before their lives changed forever on October 7, often drove Palestinian patients from the Gaza Strip to Israeli hospitals where they received medical care.
Yocheved Lifshitz said that during her abduction from Israel, her captors forcibly placed her on a motorcycle, took away her watch and jewelry, and struck her with sticks, causing bruises to her ribs and breathing difficulties.
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Arriving in Gaza, she was led on foot for several kilometers through a complex network of tunnels, which she likened to a “spider web.” Initially placed in a large room with 25 other captives, she was eventually separated and moved to a smaller group. The guards informed her that, as followers of the Quran, they would not inflict harm on the hostages.
Lifshitz said she received medical care and a single meal per day in captivity. The hostages and their guards ate the same food, consisting of cheese, cucumber, and pita.
In response to the attack, Israel declared war and launched an aggressive military campaign in Gaza, resulting in over 5,000 deaths, according to the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry.
Lifshitz criticized the Israeli government for overlooking warnings ahead of the attack.