Freed Hamas hostage says she has ‘been through hell’
A freed Israeli hostage said she has been through “hell” in a “spiderweb” of underground tunnels during the 17 days she was held captive in Gaza by Hamas.
Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was “taken through ploughed fields” and hit by Hamas fighters as she was taken into Gaza by the militants following its deadly terror attack on southern Israel which left up to 1,400 dead.
But she added the group “looked after our needs” and fed her pitta bread, hard cheese, low fat cream cheese and cucumber.
Mrs Lifshitz and Nurit Yitzhak, 79, were both kidnapped from the same kibbutz – Nir Oz – near the border with Gaza, but were released in a deal brokered by Qatar and Egypt on Monday.
It comes as the Israel Defence Forces said it had struck over 400 targets in Gaza in the last 24 hours, including a Hamas gunman, tunnel shafts and command centres.
Meanwhile, 5,100 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas and began its bombing campaign of the territory, Gazan officials said.
Elderly hostage was kidnapped by motorbike and ‘hit by sticks’
A freed Israeli hostage said she has “been through hell” during the 17 days she was held captive in Gaza by Hamas following its deadly terror attack on southern Israel which left up to 1,400 dead.
Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was “taken through ploughed fields” and hit by Hamas fighters as she was taken into Gaza by the militants.
But she added the group “looked after our needs” and fed her pitta bread, hard cheese, low fat cream cheese and cucumber.
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 10:26
Live: Family members of British-Israeli kidnap victims speak at Israeli Embassy in London
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 10:55
Pictured: Freed hostage Yocheved Lifshitz
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 10:45
Vigil in London for children killed in Gaza
About 60 people have gathered in Parliament Square for a vigil to remember the children killed in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Attendees had the names of Palestinian children killed in the conflict written on the palms of their hands, which they raised in unison.
Melanie Ward, chief executive officer of Medical Aid for Palestinians – the charity which organised the event – called for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in a short statement to attendees.
A minute’s silence was then held to pay respect to the victims.
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 10:43
UN refugee agency calls for ‘unimpeded’ flow of humanitarian support
The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency has called for an “unimpeded flow” of humanitarian assistance to Gaza which has been trapped in crisis after two weeks of intense Israeli attacks.
“We call for an unimpeded and continuous flow of humanitarian assistance and medical assistance to continue coming into Gaza,” said Tamara Alrifai, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
“The trucks that have come in so far are just a trickle in the face of the immense needs of people on the street.”
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 09:53
Israel strikes 400 targets in Gaza, IDF says
Israel has struck over 400 terrorist targets in Gaza in the last 24 hours, the IDF claimed.
Among the targets was a Hamas gunman setting up to fire rockets at Israel, a Hamas tunnel shaft and Hamas command centres.
“The IDF will continue operating in order to ensure the safety of innocent civilians,” it said.
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 09:49
Some pro-Palestine chants ‘don’t sit with our values’, says Tory minister
Alleged chants at pro-Palestine marches “don’t sit with our values as a country”, Tory minister Victoria Atkins said.
“I think actually the majority of people were shocked and upset, actually, to see some of the things that were allegedly being shouted or appearing on placards.
“But there were some who were saying things that just … don’t sit with our values as a country,” she told LBC.
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 09:40
Former Hamas hostage recalls ‘horrific’ mock execution experience
Former Hamas hostage recalls ‘horrific’ mock execution experience
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 09:35
Pictured: Yocheved Lifshitz released by Hamas
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 09:20
Pictured: Gaza
Alexander Butler24 October 2023 09:13