Israeli woman released by Hamas describes time as hostage

A grandmother released by Hamas militants said she was initially beaten by the terrorists who took her hostage, but while in captivity says she was “treated kindly”.

Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, described how Hamas militants took her away on the back of a motorbike and then through a “spiderweb of tunnels” underground.

Her daughter Sharone Lifschitz, translated for her mother as she described how her captors said they were Muslim, were not going to hurt her and then shared food with her.

“They provided for all of our needs,” she said.

The grandmother spent 16 days in captivity before she was freed on Monday, 24 October.