Israeli hostage recounts rare encounter with mysterious Hamas leader

Con tin Israel kể về lần chạm mặt hiếm hoi với thủ lĩnh bí ẩn của Hamas - 1 — Ms. Yocheved Lifshitz (Photo: Reuters).

Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, was one of more than 240 hostages taken hostage by Hamas on October 7. She was also one of the first hostages released by Hamas on October 23.

In an interview with the media, Ms. Lifshitz said that during her detention, she once encountered Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar when this man came to check on the situation of hostages in an underground tunnel.

"Sinwar came there, about three or four days after we were brought here. I asked him if he was ashamed to do this to people who were always in favor of peace . He didn't answer, just kept quiet," she recalled.

Sinwar is one of Israel's most wanted Hamas leaders. He was once sentenced to prison by Israel, but was released after outwitting Israeli intelligence. He rarely appears in public. There is widespread speculation that Sinwar has been hiding in tunnels in Gaza for years.

Under Sinwar's leadership, Hamas changed its policy, reducing its use of force to push Israel into indirect negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.

Ms Lifshitz is a peace activist who, along with her husband, has been helping Palestinian patients in Gaza access medical care for years. Her husband, Oded, remains in Hamas custody.

Previously, Ms. Lifshitz said, she was held by Hamas in a "spider web" tunnel. However, Hamas forces treated the hostages quite gently.

On October 23, when she was released, she even shook hands with a Hamas member. When asked why she did so, Ms. Lifshitz said: "They treated us very gently and met all our needs."

The Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on October 7. Last week, the two sides reached a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement.

The initial ceasefire was only for four days, but was later extended for two more days.

Israel, Hamas continue to release hostages

On November 29, the last day of the first extension, Hamas released 16 hostages, while Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners. Thus, after nearly a week of ceasefire, Hamas has released nearly 100 hostages, in exchange for the freedom of 180 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

It is not yet clear whether the two sides will continue to extend the ceasefire or not. Mediators including Egypt and Qatar are said to be trying to persuade Israel and Hamas to extend the ceasefire for 2 days or longer.

However, the Guardian quoted a source as saying that Hamas was not satisfied with the proposals made by Israel to extend the ceasefire.

Hamas also demanded that any discussion on the exchange of Israeli military prisoners, soldiers and officers first require Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza and withdraw tanks and military equipment from Gaza, the source said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the country's army is ready to resume military operations immediately.

"We are making every effort to repatriate the abductees. On the other hand, the Israel Defense Forces in the air, on land and at sea are ready to resume combat immediately," Minister Gallant stressed.

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