Yocheved Lifshitz, identified as one of the freed captives linked to the Palestinian Hamas movement, reported that the prisoners were kept in an intricate network of underground tunnels within the Gaza Strip, a detail cited by The Times of Israel as part of her account.
According to Lifshitz, she endured an initial beating at the hands of Hamas fighters in the moments following the assault. She emphasized, however, that the treatment later shifted, with representatives of Hamas providing basic necessities, including food and essential medicines, during her captivity.
Lifshitz described the sequence of moves after capture, stating that she and the other hostages were brought into the Gaza Strip and then directed into a web of subterranean passages where valuables were reportedly confiscated from those held there, creating a shared impression of controlled deprivation inside the tunnels.
Her recollection included walking along a narrow corridor that opened into a large hall, where roughly 25 hostages were gathered at that time. She recalled that, after several hours, she and four others were relocated to a separate room, suggesting a fragmented arrangement among the captives as the situation unfolded.
She underscored that the overall attitude toward the captives was described as positive by those holding them, a point Lifshitz chose to highlight amid the varied reports surrounding the hostage crisis.
On 24 October, Israeli officials announced the release of two female citizens held by Hamas. In a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, it was confirmed that 79-year-old Nurit Cooper and 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz had been freed from confinement in Gaza.
Further information from the Israeli defense community indicated that residents of the Gaza Strip were granted opportunities to provide details about hostages’ locations in exchange for protection measures and monetary rewards, reflecting ongoing efforts to resolve the hostage situation through negotiations and incentives.