Among the hundreds who participated Tuesday evening in the protest rally for the release of the hostages was Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, who herself was released from Hamas captivity a month ago and whose husband Oded remains in captivity. Yesterday, it was reported that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar met with abductees in one of the tunnels, where he promised them that no harm would come to them. Lifshitz now reveals that she was at that meeting and even told the Hamas leader her opinion.
"Sinwar was with us three to four days after we arrived," Lifshitz told Davar. "I asked him how he wasn't ashamed to do something like this to people who had supported peace all these years? He didn't answer. He was quiet."
"I'm here to demonstrate. To bring my Oded home," Lifshitz, who was at the demonstration with her grandson Daniel, said. "We will continue to demonstrate until all the abductees return."
Lifshitz is a photographer, teacher, and human rights activist. She was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, during the Hamas incursion in which at least 1,200 were killed and at least 240 taken hostage. Two and a half weeks later, she was released from Hamas captivity together with 79-year-old Nurit Cooper. The day after being released, she attended a press conference and recounted her experiences in captivity: "We walked for miles in a web of caves that looked like a mess of cobwebs." She said she was held alongside some other members of her kibbutz.
According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar went to one of the tunnels in the first days after the attack and spoke with abductees. Sinwar, who speaks fluent Hebrew, asked the abductees their names, introduced himself, and told them they were in a safe place.
