Israeli hostage shakes hands with captor after release in footage shown by Hamas

Footage has emerged of the 85-year-old hostage Yocheved Lifshitz shaking hands with one of her Hamas captors.

She is heard saying “shalom”, a Hebrew greeting meaning “peace”, after being released back to her family.

Ms Lifshitz was released alongside 79-year-old Nurit Cooper on Monday night (23 October). Their husbands, who are 83 and 84 respectively, remain captive.

Translating for her mother, Sharone Lifschitz said she had been beaten with sticks after militants snatched her away on a motorbike before leading her into Gaza’s tunnels.

“There is a huge network of tunnels underneath – it looks like a spider web,” the daughter said.

Hamas seized more than 200 people, including Israelis and dual nationals, during an assault on southern Israel on October 7.