Video: Hostages Share Experiences with Hamas Militants

An elderly woman, released after being held captive by the Palestinian Hamas group for 16 days, stated that she desires peace for her captors, despite going through "hell" during her captivity.

On the day prior, 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper were handed over to the International Red Cross by masked Hamas militants at the Rafah border crossing, according to Daily Mail.

Notably, as she was leaving, Yocheved squeezed one of the militant's hands and said, "shalom." When asked why she shook hands with the Hamas soldier, the Israeli woman replied, "Because they treated us very well."

Yocheved's daughter, Sharon Lifshitz, a British citizen, recounted her mother's experience: "My mom says that they were very nice and careful with them and took care of all their needs." Yocheved recounted that not only women but also men were treated kindly by Hamas members. "One of the men was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on the way; medical personnel provided assistance. He was kept in a clean place, and they were very concerned for him," the woman shared.

Both Yocheved and Nurit were abducted from their homes in the Kibbutz Nir Oz community during a surprise attack on October 7, while their husbands remain hostage in Gaza.

Sharon explained that her mother was transported to Gaza through underground tunnels. "There is a huge network of tunnels underneath, like a spider's web," she said. "When they arrived at their destination, they entered a large hall where about 25 hostages were gathered. After two or three hours, five of them were taken to a separate room. My mom said they were very friendly, taking care of them and giving them medication. They provided pita bread and cheese as their food for the day," she added.

Hamas released footage of Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz's handover. Earlier reports confirmed the return of the two hostages. Egyptian media reported that the women, freed by Hamas, arrived at the Rafah crossing through Egyptian efforts.