Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #13

[margarita25]

There is reference to it here somewhere, but more easily found with Google. Here are a couple of articles:

Released hostage, 85-year-old woman, says she was beaten with sticks when kidnapped

Yocheved Lifshitz, an 85-year-old woman released by Hamas, told reporters Tuesday that the militants beat her with sticks, bruising her ribs and making it hard to breathe, as they kidnapped her during their attack on towns in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

www.washingtontimes.com

‘I Went Through Hell,’ Freed Israeli, 85, Says of Subterranean Captivity in Gaza (Published 2023)

Yocheved Lifshitz, a grandmother and Israeli peace activist, was kidnapped, beaten and held in tunnels built by Hamas for 17 days.

www.nytimes.com

Israeli hostage released by Hamas, Yocheved Lifshitz, talks about ordeal, and why she shook her captor's hand

Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, says she "went through hell" being taken hostage by Hamas, but after 2 weeks in captivity, she shook one of the militants' hands.

www.cbsnews.com

Thank you. Admittedly being lazy and not in a googling mood. Appreciate all the updates again everyone.

 

[margarita25]

According to footage broadcast by Al-Jazeera, Hamas handed over some of the hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza City. They were then handed over to the IDF in central Gaza and taken into Israel. The footage may indicate the hostages were being held in areas of Gaza City that the IDF had not yet reached.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728832675476119805

See 1:16.

 

[PommyMommy]

2min ago

Israel Prisons Service says 39 Palestinian prisoners freed under truce deal​

Israel’s Prisons Service says 39 Palestinian security prisoners have been released under the terms of a truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The announcement comes after 13 Israeli hostages were freed this evening under the deal, along with three Thais and a Russian-Israeli dual citizen.

All the Palestinian prisoners being freed have been indicted on terror charges and many have been convicted for their crimes; they are all either female or 18 and under.

 

[PommyMommy]

1m ago / 10:27 AM PST

Member of Hamas military council killed, group says​

Hamas announced the death of Ahmed al-Ghandour, who was in charge of northern Gaza and a member of its top military council. He is the highest-ranking militant known to have been killed in the fighting. Israel’s military confirmed the death.

Al-Ghandour, believed to have been around 56 years old, had survived at least three Israeli attempts on his life and was involved in a cross-border attack in 2006 in which Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier, according to the Counter Extremism Project, an advocacy group based in Washington.

Hamas said that he was killed along with three other senior militants, including Ayman Siam, who Israel says was in charge of Hamas’ rocket-firing unit. The Israeli military mentioned both men in a Nov. 16 statement, saying it had targeted an underground complex where Hamas leaders were hiding.

[...]

Israel-Hamas war live updates: American girl, 4, among 17 hostages freed on third day of cease-fire

Follow NBC News' coverage for live updates about the Israel-Hamas war: Third group of hostages set to be released as truce holds.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[PommyMommy]

5min ago

Hundreds cheer vans carrying freed Israeli hostages as they head to IDF airbase​

In a first scene of its kind since the hostage releases began, hundreds of cheering Israelis in Ofakim greet vans ferrying freed Israelis, as the convoy makes its way to Hatzerim Airbase near Beersheba.

Excited onlookers wave flags and their hands at those inside the vehicles, with some of the returnees seen waving back at the joyous crowd.

The convoy is heading to Hatzerim, where the freed Israelis will get an initial reception before being dispersed to hospitals to get a general checkup and to meet with their families.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728838456162537616

An emotional reunion. Sharon and Noam, Mother and daughter, were released yesterday after 50 days being held hostage by Hamas and met their family for the first time since.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728841074792403328

 

[margarita25]

8min ago

Photos emerge of hostages crossing into Israel on Red Cross jeeps​

4-year-old Avigail Idan seen in a Red Cross ambulance along with the several other hostages released by Hamas on the third day of the 4-day ceasefire with Israel, November 26, 2023. (Screenshot)

First photos emerge of Israeli hostages crossing into Israel on Red Cross jeeps.
In the photos, 4-year-old Avigail Idan, whose parents were both murdered on October 7, can be seen in the back of a jeep, as can 15-year-old Dafna Elyakim, who is arriving with her sister.


Dafna Elyakim, 15, seen in the Red Cross ambulance leaving Gaza, along with several other hostages released by Hamas on the third day of the 4-day ceasefire with Israel, November 26, 2023. (Screenshot)

Fourteen Israelis and 3 Thai nationals were released this evening in the third group of hostages feed by Hamas from Gaza as part of the truce deal.

Avigail is home! But she’s an orphan. And her brother, who hid in a closet while their mother was murdered, is reportedly not communicating.

We’ll leave no one left behind. And this war will end with the end of Hamas.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728822525474537919

Hamas could have released little Kfir Bibas any day after he was cruelly abducted on October 7. It’s had three hostage release days. It’s choosing to keep this little baby hostage.

Hamas is evil.
Evil must be eradicated.
Hamas will be eradicated.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728825118582050976

First documentation of 4-year-old Abigail Idan, who was released this evening from Hamas captivity

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728832575219863722

Yay!

This goes to show it is impossible to predict how all of this can turn out. I thought Hamas may continue to hold onto their prized child American hostage for leverage. I also thought they wouldn’t have kept Yaffa alive due to her age and medical conditions.

Anxious like everyone else to know about the fates of the rest of the hostages. I haven’t felt optimistic about some of the younger ladies and the men, but these releases have of course renewed optimism, and as I stated it’s obviously impossible to predict anything.

As for Avigail, we know US/Biden has been working relentlessly with Israel, Qatar, and all parties to get ALL the hostages released, but I wonder if there was extra, extra pressure put on Hamas to release her, like you better return our American child hostage or it is going to be VERY, VERY bad, even more bad for you.

I think it is very clear to Hamas that the US isn’t playing around. The very first two hostages released were American.

 

[sds71]

The shooting victims "were confronted by a white male with a handgun" who shot at least four rounds "without speaking," according to a news release from Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad says.

Suspect arrested in Vermont shooting of 3 U.S. college students of Palestinian descent

Follow NBC News' coverage for live updates about the shooting of three U.S. college students of Palestinian descent in Burlington, Vermont.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Sundog]

8min ago

Kfar Aza evacuees celebrate release of loved ones, demand rest be freed from Gaza​

Freed hostages Abigail Idan and Uriah Brodutch, both 4, are also from Kfar Aza. Tzuk-Barak says she wants to thank diplomats “for helping to get my nephew’s friends from kindergarten back.”

<snipped for focus>

Abigail and Uriah, both 4 years old.
Kindergarten friends glad they are back.

Kindergarten!

Hamas=Isis

 

[margarita25]

Here’s another thing, re: the “maybe around 60” hostages supposedly killed in strikes and buried under the rubble of family homes, per the Hamas leader (ref upstream) :

Obviously Israel would ask where these locations are and go there to check/dig and recover bodies.

Perhaps this search, recovery, and identification process is still underway. Or maybe Hamas would not reveal these locations, if they even exist. We know we can not believe anything they say, and while it’s possible hostages were killed in strikes, especially if being held by targeted Hamas families, it’s also possible they were killed by Hamas or being held back for leverage.

Waiting to see how this will all unfold.

 

[margarita25]

 

[whitelilac]

I so want to see Noa Argamani released also. Her mother is suffering from terminal cancer, please let her hug her daughter again.

 

[margarita25]

 

[PommyMommy]

32min ago

Survivor struck with emotion at the sight of Nahal Oz sisters’ release from Gaza​

Amir Tibon, second from right, grips his head with emotion as he watches a picture of Ela and Dafna Elyakim being released from Gaza on November 26, 2023, in Mishmar Haemek. (Canaan Lidor/Times of Israel)

Amir Tibon grips his head with emotion as he studies the first picture of Ela and Dafna Elyakim, 8 and 15, after their release from captivity in Gaza this evening.

Tibon, a journalist and member of Nahal Oz, tells another journalist: “I worried about all of them, all the three members of our kibbutz. But I’m telling you: Dafna was the one I thought the most about. She was the sunshine of the kibbutz. I have been waiting for this picture for 51 days.”

[...]

“They look the same,” he says several times. But his forehead creases with worry at the sight of Avraham lying down in an ambulance during the transfer.

“She’s in a completely different state,” he says in Mishmar Haemek, a kibbutz near Afula where most of Nir Oz’s survivors have been staying since they were evacuated.

 

[PommyMommy]

21min ago

Avigail Idan’s grandfather hails her release, says wound of her parents’ murder will never heal​

4-year-old Avigail Idan's grandfather Carmel Idan speaks to the media after Avigail's release from Hamas captivity, November 26, 2023. (Screenshot)

Carmel Idan, grandfather of released hostage Avigail Idan, says he could not believe his eyes at first when he saw pictures of Avigail on her way back to Israel, after her release by Hamas.

“It was just wow. I didn’t believe it until I saw it,” he tells reporters outside his home. “Now I’m calm, but not completely calm because there is happiness, but there is also the absence of Roee and Smadar.” Avigail’s parents were murdered by Hamas terrorists at their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7.

[...]


Avigail Idan, 4, was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Both of Avigail’s parents were murdered. She was released on November 26, 2023. (Courtesy)

He says he has “an open wound that will never heal” with the murders of Smadar and Roee.
Carmel says he has not been allowed to speak to or meet with Avigail yet. Asked what he’ll tell her when he is allowed to see her, he says, “I won’t tell her anything. I’ll kiss her, stroke her, hug her. Speak, no? There’s nothing to say.”

He thanks President Biden: “We love him very much for all the help he is giving us, to Israel. Keep going. Keep going. We don’t admire you. We love you.”

Avigail and her two brothers are dual US citizens, as was their mother.

Carmel says he has not said anything yet about Avigail’s release to siblings Michael, 9, and Amalya, 6, who survived the October 7 ordeal including by hiding for 14 hours in a closet. They are “in shock and with a psychologist,” he says. “They are deeply sad.”

 

[PommyMommy]

9:20 pm

Hospital says freed hostage Elma Avraham, 84, is in life-threatening condition​

Elma Avraham was abducted from her Kibbutz Nahal Oz home by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. She was freed on November 26, 2023. (Courtesy)

Soroka Hospital in Beersheba says released hostage 84-year-old Elma Avraham, who was evacuated by helicopter to the medical center, is in serious and life-threatening condition.

In a short statement, Soroka says Avraham is in “poor physical condition and severe clinical condition.”

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said earlier that Avraham was taken to Soroka directly from the Gaza Strip by helicopter, due to her health condition.

 

[margarita25]

 

[margarita25]

Knowing Hamas’ demonstrated propensity to rape, (and kill some of them afterwards), again I wonder if the unaccounted for hostages will include some females who have been sexually assaulted. Some may have very well been taken specifically for this purpose. There are many females taken from the festival, and Kibbutz’. It also must be noted that not just young women were raped, as I remember posting reference upstream that the raped victims included females of different age groups, from young to older.

 

[PommyMommy]

Maya Regev, who was shot then kidnapped, seen reuniting with her family in hospital​

Footage from earlier today shows Maya Regev, 21, who was among the group of hostages released from Gaza late Saturday night, reuniting with her family in the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.

Regev was shot in the leg at the Supernova music festival on October 7 before she was kidnapped to the Strip.

She was brought straight to Soroka for medical treatment and underwent surgery.

Regev can been seen tearfully reuniting with her mother in the hospital after 50 days of Hamas captivity.

Her 18-year-old brother, Itai, is still held hostage in Gaza.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728850761101300089

 

[PommyMommy]

9:59 pm

Footage shows return of Haran, Shoham family to Israel last night​

Yahel Shoham, 3, is seen with grandmother Shoshan Haran, 67, upon their return to Israel after 50 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, where they were held with Yahel's mother Adi and her son Naveh, 8, on November 25, 2023. (Courtesy)

Newly released footage and photos show the return of some of the Haran and Shoham family to Israel in the early hours of this morning, following 50 days in Hamas captivity.

The photos, shared by the Prime Minister’s Office, show Shoshan Haran, 67, her daughter Adi Shoham, 38, and Adi’s children Naveh, 8 and Yahel, 3, being received by IDF soldiers upon their arrival in Israel.

Yahel and Naveh’s father, Tal Shoham — Adi’s husband — is still being held captive in Gaza.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728854339379462345

 

[margarita25]

I wonder if proof of life has been provided and confirmed for only the hostages involved in this particular deal, or if Israel/US has been able to confirm other alive hostages, for example the men and other non-children/non-mothers.


Eta: this question was just asked by a reporter in the Biden PC, but it was not answered, as it was included among other questions. Not sure if skipped on purpose, or it was just missed.