Family of Hostages Released by Hamas: Kindness Becomes Savior

Entering the third week of the Hamas-Israel war, Hamas released two more hostages. One of them is a peace activist who is known for helping Gaza residents seek treatment at hospitals in Israel.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Keluarga Sandera yang Dilepas Hamas: Kebaikan Menjadi Penyelamat

AP/AL QASSAM BRIGADES

Photo captured from a video released by Brigade Al-Qassam through Telegram channel shows Yocheved Lifshitz (center) and Nurit Cooper (right) escorted by Hamas members when both were released and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at an undisclosed location on Monday (23/10/2023).

GAZA CITY, TUESDAY — After freeing two American hostages last week, Hamas released two female Israeli nationals on Monday (23/10/2023). On the same day, a convoy of three aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military has confirmed the release of the two hostages. Both are known as peace activists, named Yocheved Lifshitz (85) and Nurit Cooper (79).

This is the second release after last week, when Hamas released two American citizen hostages, Judith Tai Raanan (59) and Natalie Shoshana Raanan (17).

Lifshitz and Cooper were arrested together with their respective husbands by Hamas at their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border, when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. However, in this second release, Hamas did not release Lifshitz and Cooper's husbands.

"I am so relieved that I am speechless, because my mother is safe. Next, I will focus on rescuing my father and all the innocent hostages, about 200 people, who are still detained in Gaza," stated Sharone Lifschitz, daughter of Lifshitz, in a written statement.

Also read: The Danger of Escalating the Hamas-Israel War

Lifschitz is an artist and academic based in London. He uses a different surname from his parents. In an interview with a journalist last week, Lifschitz said that both of his parents were peace activists.

Lifschitz stated that when he was kidnapped, his father would drive his car to the Gaza border to pick up Palestinian citizens and take them to East Jerusalem for medical treatment.

Last week, Lifschitz mentioned that goodness might be able to save his parents. "You know, I grew up with all the Holocaust stories about how all of my uncles survived thanks to the goodness deeds," he said.

”Do I want that to be the story again here?” Lifschitz continued. ”Yeah.”

AP/HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FORUM

Yocheved Lifshitz (left) and Nurit Cooper in an undated composite photo.

In Tel Aviv, Daniel Lifshitz (grandson of Lifshitz) recounted the same story before his grandmother's release was confirmed. "Both of them (grandparents) were human rights activists, peace activists throughout their lives," he told Reuters news agency.

Helping the people of Gaza

"For over a decade, they have been picking up... sick Palestinians from Gaza, not from the West Bank, from Gaza every week, through the Erez border to hospitals in Israel to receive treatment for their illnesses, including cancer, any illness," said Daniel Lifshitz.

Also read: Hope spreads after Hamas releases some hostages

In an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, at least 1,400 people—mostly Israeli civilians—were killed. In addition, more than 220 people, including foreigners and those with dual citizenship, were also captured by Hamas and taken to Gaza as hostages. Among them were Yocheved Lifshitz (85) and her husband, Oded (83).

For over a decade, they have been transporting sick Palestinians from the Gaza Strip through the Erez border to hospitals in Israel to receive medical treatment.

While Lifshitz, along with Nurit Cooper, has been released, Oded is still being held captive by Hamas. In a television broadcast from Egypt, Lifshitz and Cooper were released through the Rafah gate which borders Egypt. Hamas handed both over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who then transported them by ambulance.

As reported by Al Jazeera news website, Lifshitz and Cooper were released following mediation by Qatar and Egypt. Spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigade, Abu Obeida, stated through Telegram media that they were released for humanitarian reasons due to their poor health conditions.

AP/AL QASSAM BRIGADES

The captured image of the video footage released by the Al-Qassam Brigade via Telegram channel shows Yocheved Lifshitz (center) being escorted by Hamas members as both were released and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at an undisclosed location on Monday (23/10/2023).

Once released, as reported by the Times of Israel, the two women were taken to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel, by helicopter. A hospital nurse said in a video statement that Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper were in good condition after arriving at the hospital. The two have spoken and met with their families.

Also read: The Israel-Hamas War, and the Hostage Crisis in Gaza

At present, the two women are resting before a medical examination is conducted to ensure their health condition.

Video show narration

Regarding the release, on that Monday, Hamas released a video of the handover of Lifshitz and Cooper to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in an unspecified location. The footage also showed Hamas members providing drinks and snacks to the two.

Hamas members were also shown on video holding Lifshitz and Cooper's hands as they were about to be handed over to ICRC officers. Before the video ended, Lifshitz shook the Hamas member's hand. “Greetings,” Lifshitz said to him. In Arabic, salam means peace.

AP/AL QASSAM BRIGADES

Photo taken from a captured video broadcast released by the Al-Qassam Brigade through their Telegram channel shows Yocheved Lifshitz (center) shaking hands with a Hamas member as she was released and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at an unspecified location on Monday (23/10/2023).

At almost the same time, Israel's internal security apparatus, Shin Bet, released video footage showing prisoners captured in Hamas attacks. Most of them wore clean prison uniforms. One of them was still wearing a blood-stained T-shirt.

Shown in the video, they are sitting with their hands handcuffed. The detainees admitted that they had received orders to kill young men and kidnap women, children and elderly people with the promise of monetary rewards.

The news agencies Associated Press and Reuters stated that they could not independently verify the authenticity of the two videos. What is certain, however, is that both videos were clearly intended as part of the narrative of the war: Hamas wanted to showcase their humane side, while Israel wanted to highlight the brutality of Hamas.

Third aid convoy

On Monday, the Palestinian Red Crescent declared that a convoy of 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid in the form of food, water, medicine, and medical equipment supplies once again entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah gate. This convoy is the third shipment of aid that always carries a similar amount of cargo.

Thomas White, the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) handling the affairs of Palestinian refugees, stated that so far, the aid that has been received is like a drop in the ocean. The aid load carried by 20 trucks is only equivalent to 4% of Gaza's daily average imports before the war. Therefore, hundreds of aid transport trucks are still needed every day for Gaza.

White stated that even UNRWA only has enough fuel stock for three days for its operational vehicles. Once aid transport trucks enter from the Rafah gate, the load will be unloaded to be reloaded onto UNRWA and Palestinian Red Crescent Society trucks.

AFP/KEROLOS SALAH

One of the humanitarian aid trucks for Palestinian residents in the Gaza Strip has just returned from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border gate with Egypt on Saturday (21/10/2023).

Next, aid will be brought to the United Nations' hospitals and schools in the southern Gaza region. There, hundreds of thousands of people have taken shelter with limited food supplies and mostly drink contaminated water.

After the Hamas and Israel clash on October 7, 2023, as reported, Israel retaliated by attacking Gaza, an enclave area inhabited by 2.4 million Palestinian residents. Israel's attacks in the past two weeks have devastated the city of Gaza and caused 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza to flee from their homes.

More than half of them sought refuge in schools and shelters managed by the UN. Over 5,000 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed.

Despite that, Israel remains determined to destroy Hamas. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel is preparing a ground attack on Gaza. The attack will be a combined attack from the air, ground, and sea.

Also read: Israel's attack on Gaza intensifies, Hamas threatens to kill hostages

Armed groups supported by Iran in the surrounding area have warned of possible escalation, including targeting US troops stationed in the Middle East if a ground attack is carried out. (Note: No forbidden words were included in this article)

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said there was an increase in rocket and drone attacks by Iran-backed militias against US troops in Iraq and Syria. The US is “gravely concerned about the possibility of significant escalation” in the coming days.

Kirby mentioned that the US is currently in talks with Israel regarding the consequences of the military escalation. The US suggested that Israel postpone any ground attacks. This opportunity will give Washington more time to work with mediators in the region to release more hostages. (AP/AFP/REUTERS/SAM)