Former Captive Describes Being Held in a Maze of Gaza Tunnels

An 85-year-old grandmother and peace activist, Yocheved Lifschitz, has spoken about her two-week ordeal after being released by Hamas. She and her husband were kidnapped by militants on motorbikes and taken into a labyrinth of tunnels beneath Gaza. While on the journey, Mrs. Lifschitz was hit with sticks, but most of the hostages were reportedly treated well. She was later freed alongside another woman, Nurit Cooper. Photos show Mrs. Lifschitz shaking hands with a Hamas gunman before being taken back to Israel by the International Red Cross. Her husband, Oded, has not been released. The couple was kidnapped from their kibbutz in southern Israel, where a large number of residents were killed or kidnapped by Hamas. Mrs. Lifschitz, speaking from a hospital in Tel Aviv, described the journey into Gaza as a walk through a network of tunnels resembling a spider's web. She explained that she was hit during the journey and suffered bruises and breathing difficulties. Her daughter, Sharone Lifschitz, expressed surprise at her mother's handshake with the gunman, but noted that she had been treated well by the captors. The couple, known for their peace activism, frequently transported sick individuals from Gaza to hospitals in Israel. Meanwhile, Nurit Cooper's husband remains in captivity. In total, four hostages have been released, but over 200 people are still being held by Hamas, according to Israel.