Two female hostages, 85-year-old Yochved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper, were released from Hamas captivity in Gaza after 16 days. New footage shows the dramatic moment of her handover to the Red Cross.
The couple arrived at the Egyptian-controlled border crossing late Monday and will be transferred to Israel “shortly,” an official statement said. “The families have been informed,” it said.
In a clip shared by her release, Yochved can be seen crawling out of the back of a white truck before walking towards an ambulance with the help of two officers.
Meanwhile, Nurit lies and is rolled into a stretcher.
Both women do not appear to have any obvious physical injuries as they are checked and monitored by ICRC staff wearing Red Cross vests.
Yochved’s daughter, British national Sharone Lifshitz, 52, confirmed the news this evening and admitted she “couldn’t put into words” how “relieved” she was.
She said: “I can confirm that my mother Yochi (Yocheved) Lifshitz was one of two hostages handed over to the Red Cross this evening.”
“While I cannot express in words my relief that she is now safe, I will remain focused on securing the release of my father and all of those – some 200 innocent people – still held hostage in Gaza being held.”
Two female hostages, 85-year-old Yochved Lifshitz (left) and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper (right), were released from Hamas captivity in Gaza after 16 days. New footage shows the dramatic moment of her handover to the Red Cross
Both women were kidnapped from their homes on Kibbutz Nir Oz. Their husbands remain in Gaza.
Yochved, known as Yochi, was kidnapped from her home along with her husband Oded, 83, during the barbaric attacks on October 7.
Her British daughter Sharone, 52, shared her story with Web earlier this month in the hope of raising awareness and bringing her parents home.
“My father is 83 and my mother is 85. She needs oxygen and he has lung disease. “You can’t survive alone in this environment,” she said at the time.
“What kind of person would do that? I just can’t imagine anyone in my life who could do something like that. My father is not the enemy. He spent his retirement driving Palestinians from the border to and from the hospital. He is not the enemy. He believes in the humanity of all people.’
The Palestinian terror group announced today that two hostages seized during the October 7 attacks in the Gaza Strip have been released.
The Islamist group’s military wing said in a statement that the two women were released for “compelling humanitarian” reasons after mediation by Qatar and Egypt. There was no immediate confirmation from Israeli authorities.
Hamas is reportedly planning to release 50 hostages with dual citizenship from the Gaza Strip, sources in Gaza told Israeli media on Monday.
The Red Cross was reportedly dispatched to receive the prisoners kidnapped during the Islamist terrorist attack on Israel on October 7.
According to Israeli television channel i24, Qatar played a central role in brokering the handover, which is scheduled to take place in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.
In a clip shared by her release, Yochved can be seen crawling out of the back of a white truck before walking toward an ambulance with the help of two officers
Yochved is seen talking to one of the officers while conducting medical tests
Meanwhile, Nurit lies and is rolled into a stretcher
Sources confirmed that 85-year-old Yochved Lifshitz was released from Hamas captivity in Gaza after 16 days
79-year-old Nurit Cooper was also “recently” handed over to the Red Cross at the Rafah border crossing and will be transferred to Israel “shortly,” according to an official statement
Yochved’s daughter, British national Sharone Lifshitz, 52, confirmed the news this evening and admitted she “couldn’t put into words” how “relieved” she was
According to Gaza sources, Israel has refrained from bombing the area to facilitate the transfer.
According to The Times of Israel, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari did not dispute the report. An earlier New York Times report said the Israeli government believes Hamas could release about 50 hostages with dual citizenship – but a ground invasion would prevent their release.
Hamas, Qatar, Egypt and Israel have held talks in recent days over a proposal to release a larger group in return for a steady flow of humanitarian aid, including fuel, three officials familiar with the talks said.
However, Israeli officials have also reportedly said they are demanding the release of all hostages before authorizing the delivery of fuel. Israeli officials have also told negotiators that they believe Hamas and other militant groups could divert fuel for military use.
Negotiations are at an advanced stage, but Israel has not yet agreed to fuel shipments to Gaza via Egypt, the three officials said.
Meanwhile, a senior Hamas leader claimed that the civilian hostages in Gaza would be released if Israel met the right conditions.
Khaled Meshaal, one of the terrorist organization’s key negotiators, said that over 200 hostages held by the group could be released if Israel reduces the intensity of its bombing of Gaza.
“Let them stop this aggression and you will find mediators like Qatar and Egypt, and some Arab countries and others will find a way to release them and we will send them to their homes,” he told Sky News.
He said there could be no hostage releases as long as Israel’s air offensive remained so intense.
Khaled Meshaal has claimed that the civilian hostages in Gaza will be released if Israel meets the right conditions
Meshaal, one of the terrorist organization’s key negotiators, said over 200 hostages held by the group could be released if Israel reduces the intensity of bombings in Gaza
“We want to stop the indiscriminate bombings, the total destruction, the genocide, so that the al-Qassam soldiers can take them out of their places and hand them over to the Red Cross or whoever.”
“We need the right conditions for them to be released.”
Meshaal reiterated the claim that 22 hostages had died in Israeli airstrikes since the hostage crisis.
Hamas won’t say which countries they come from, but says many of the dead are Israelis.
He would also not question the question of whether Hamas will stop hostage-taking negotiations entirely if Israel presses ahead with a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.
So far only two hostages have been released by Hamas.
Khaled Meshaal is a powerful figure within Hamas and is revered as a living martyr, having survived an Israeli assassination attempt on him nearly three decades ago.
This comes after an Illinois teenager was released by Hamas on Friday after 13 days in captivity and is “doing very well,” her father said, with footage showing the dramatic moment she and her mother were handed over to the Red Cross .
Natalie Shoshana Raanan, 17, and her mother Judith Tai Raanan, 59, arrived back in Israel late Friday, the Israeli government confirmed, after leaving Gaza through an Egyptian-controlled border crossing.
Leaving Gaza with no apparent physical injuries, the Raanans got out of a car and were then surrounded by ICRC staff wearing Red Cross vests. The two then got into a Red Cross vehicle and drove away.
They are receiving medical treatment, the governor of Illinois said, without giving details of their condition. The deal to release the couple was brokered by Qatar.
Her brother Ben joked he was “annoyed” because she still looked “like a supermodel” despite her ordeal.
“She’s doing well.” “She’s doing very well,” said Uri Raanan, 71, who lives in a Chicago suburb, adding that neither her whereabouts nor her conditions in captivity were discussed.
“She didn’t tell me anything. But she told me that they were treated nicely and that she was doing very well.
“I will hug her and kiss her and it will be the best day of my life.”
Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan arrived back in Israel late Friday, the Israeli government confirmed
In a photo released by the US Embassy in Israel on Friday evening, Natalie Raanan and her mother Judith can be seen talking to Joe Biden
Knowing that Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday at home with family and friends next week feels “wonderful.” “The best news,” said Uri Raanan.
He said he assumed Natalie and Judith were in transit to Tel Aviv to meet their relatives and that both would be back in the United States early this week.
“I spoke to my daughter earlier today – she sounds good and she looks good,” he said at a news conference outside his home.
“I spoke to President Biden. I thanked him for his concern in releasing them. He was very nice.
“I spoke to Governor Pritzker and he was nice.
“And hopefully I’ll see her next week. Next week is Natalie’s birthday and we’ll celebrate it here.”
The father said he first learned of the possible release through Israeli television and then received a call from the IDF.
He described the last 13 days as “the worst situation,” adding that he had been kept in the dark by their captors.
“I didn’t sleep at night and my head was always in Israel,” he said.
“A lot of phone calls, a lot of TV.” “I sat in front of the TV for two weeks hoping for good news – and finally it came.”
He added: “I haven’t lost hope. “I’m just praying and waiting for that moment.”
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Hamas still fears it is holding 10 Americans hostage.
The Foreign Secretary revealed the missing figure during a press conference announcing the release of Judith and Natalie Raanan.
Blinken said he could not offer any further information on the “status or condition” of the Americans believed to still be in Hamas custody following the Oct. 7 terror attacks.
“I cannot speak publicly about the details of these efforts, and I know you understand that, but the urgent work to release every American and all other hostages continues – as does our work to ensure safe exit from Gaza.” for the Americans trapped there,” he said.
“In this particular case, I would like to thank the Government of Qatar for their very important support.”
He also refused to comment further on how the Raanans are faring after the handover.
Israeli soldiers carry the coffins of Sgt. Yam Goldstein and her father Nadav during their funeral at Kibbutz Shefayim
Israel has held funerals for the victims of the Hamas massacre
Israel responded to the Hamas massacre and hostage crisis with airstrikes on Gaza that Hamas said killed more than 4,000 people and said it would take measures to free the hostages while wiping out the terror group.
Israeli tanks and troops are massed near the enclave for an expected ground invasion and are calling on Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza, where Hamas is said to have established itself.
Israel has also stated that the total blockade of the enclave will not end until the Israeli hostages are released.
Hamas says it has around 200 hostages and 50 more are being held by other armed groups in the enclave.
The group claimed more than 20 hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes but gave no further details.