Yocheved Lifschitz: 85-year-old hostage is a testament to humanity
Photo Courtesy: Oren Rozen, Wikimedia Commons
On the 24th October, Yocheved Lifschitz and Nurit Cooper - two Israelis who had been kidnapped by Hamas - were released to the Red Cross. The Israeli Government thanked both Egypt and the Red Cross for their work in assisting the return of their citizens. Following their release, they were taken to hospital to be monitored after spending more than two weeks in captivity.
Whilst their return made global news, the actions of Mrs Lifschitz upon her release stunned the world. Before departing with members of the Red Cross, she turned to the masked gunman holding her - a Hamas militant - and wished him “shalom”, meaning peace. How, after everything she had been through, was Mrs Lifschitz able to compose herself and treat her captor with such kindness?
The ordeal of a hostage
Mrs Lifschitz was abducted on the 7th October during Hamas’ attack on the South of Israel, where more than 1400 people were reported to have been killed and 242 taken hostage. Both Yocheved and her husband, Oded, were kidnapped in the early morning. Mrs Lifschitz has described first being hit with sticks, resulting in multiple bruises on her body. She has also recounted having to walk for many kilometres before being taken into a “huge network of tunnels underneath Gaza”.
Mrs Lifschitz stated that, whilst they were being transported, their captors explained they “believed in the Quran” and would not harm those that were captured. She also stated that a doctor was present when required, providing for the complex medical needs of both Mrs Lifschitz and Mrs Cooper. Indeed, according to Mrs Lifschitz, the individual she shook hands with had claimed to have formerly been a paramedic.
It is difficult to assess the treatment of hostages, or to draw comparisons to other hostage situations. The narrative of what occurs to hostages has to be reviewed from first-hand experiences like Mrs Lifschitz’s, as well as official statements put out by Hamas - a “terrorist” organisation. The New York Times has stated on multiple occasions that statements made by Hamas cannot be verified independently. All that can be confirmed on the matter is that Hamas has traded hostages in the past, on the condition Israel releases prisoners of their own. This transaction is often not proportional. In 2006, for example, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was exchanged for 1000 Palestinian Prisoners.
The example of Yocheved Lifschitz
Many Western Media outlets have not detailed much about Mrs Lifschitz’s past, outside of a few comments by her family. Yocheved is a retired teacher. Alongside her husband, she has also acted as a peace activist, transporting Palestinians in Gaza to local hospitals within Israel for treatment. No source ever states she expected financial compensation or critical acclaim for her actions; she simply believed it was the right thing to do.
After her release, her testimony of events has helped to identify captors that had not previously been identified. She has also spent time assuring multiple family members, friends, and individuals she had never spoken to that their loved ones were being looked after. Despite the fact her husband is still unreleased, and she herself has lost a lot of weight and is now incredibly weak, Mrs Lifschitz has recounted her captors’ “care” and “gentleness”.
It should be made clear, of course, that Pi Media condemns Hamas’ attacks and their taking of hostages - an obvious war crime that deserves punishment. It is also evident that a terrible humanitarian crisis is now occurring in Palestine. Following the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have killed more than 10,000 people - according to the Hamas-run health ministry - and cut off 2.2 million Palestinians from food, water, medicine, electricity, and fuel.
Yocheved Lifschitz is only a very small part in this atrocious conflict, but her part shows us that humanity can be found even in the darkest of times. Despite all the hardships Mrs Lifschitz has endured as a hostage, her response represents a continuation of the message of peace that she and her husband have long advocated. Oded, too, was a journalist who campaigned for the rights of Palestinians and Bedouin tribes. Sharone Liftschitz, their daughter, has said Oded would be “horrified” that Israel’s response was punishing Palestinian civilians, not just Hamas.
Yocheved Lifschitz should be seen as an example of hope and kindness. She took her moment to talk with concern and respect for all of those who were affected by the atrocities of the past few weeks. She is not anti-Israel, nor anti-Palestine, but pro-humanity.