- Yocheved Lifshitz, an 85-year-old Israeli hostage, was released by Hamas on Monday, October 23rd.
- During a news conference, she said she was beaten while being transported to Gaza, but also said the hostage takers were “well behaved.”
- Excerpts from this speech sparked widespread reactions on social networks, accusing the media of distorting the truth about the words of the ex-hostage, whose husband is still captive.
Yocheved Lifshitz was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israeli civilians and held hostage until her release on October 23. The 85-year-old was released at the same time as another woman, 79-year-old Nurit Cooper, for “urgent humanitarian reasons,” according to Hamas.
The octogenarian addressed the issues surrounding his abduction and his detention conditions during a press conference on Tuesday, October 24. Yocheved Lifschitz’s comments, which were picked up by the press in articles and videos, sparked numerous reactions, suggesting that the media lacked honesty in reporting contradictory comments.
Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera journalist Wassila Oulmi, for example, shared two screenshots from the BBC and BBC Arabic accounts on X and accused the media of “presenting two different novels for two different audiences in two different languages.” »
The first release from BBC World’s report is an article headlined in English: “I’ve been through hell, says elderly hostage released by Hamas.” The second, shared by BBC Arabic, includes a screenshot a report on the hostage that said (in Arabic): “They treated us well and took care of all the details.”
In France, Gilles-William Goldnadel, French-Israeli columnist for CNews and Le Figaro, expressed outrage at a sequence broadcast on France Inter. In its publication, he claims: “Another lie from France Inter. Just now, a public abuse reporter claims that an elderly woman was taken hostage and released, saying she was “treated well.” I heard her interview in Hebrew where she says she was beaten. »
FAKE OFF
The former hostage stated that she had “experienced horror”, just as she later explained that her captors had “behaved well” towards the hostages.
The full sequence of the press conference that Yocheved Lifschitz gave on Tuesday with the assistance of his daughter Sharone Lifschitz can be found on the website of I24, an Israel-based news channel. As we can hear it in French through the voice of the translator, the former hostage begins with the words: “I want to tell you the truth, I experienced a horror that I never thought possible.” »
Yocheved Lifschitz describes how she was transported “through the fields” towards Gaza on a motorcycle, surrounded by two men. This is the moment she explains: “They beat me, they didn’t break my ribs, but they hurt me very, very badly and I had a lot of difficulty breathing.” »
Yocheved Lifschitz then reported on their prison conditions: “They took good care of our health so that we didn’t get sick. We had a doctor who came every two or three days. » She continues: “They behaved well towards us, they took care of us, [il y avait] many women who know what feminine hygiene problems are. »
Asked about her gesture towards a Hamas fighter
Yocheved Lifschitz then answered a question from a journalist who asked her about the fact that she was filmed holding the hand of a Hamas soldier when she was released.
“They looked after us very well and responded to all of our needs,” reports the translator. “My mother says they treated her kindly and took care of her,” her daughter then translates.
According to the Israeli army, 224 people are still being held by Hamas. Nine French people are also missing, presumably hostages in Gaza.