Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump: We are very close to an agreement in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump: I will most likely go to Egypt.
Russian agency: Russia will conduct a nuclear test if the US does
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba

Hamas makes gains as Israeli government blunders pileup: Israeli media

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli Media
  • 24 Oct 2023 21:53
4 Min Read

Israeli media says Hamas has made gains by releasing two captives as the Israeli occupation accumulates bad PR in light of its aggression on Gaza.

  • x
  • Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, who was captured in Gaza after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood speaks to the press a day after being released by Hamas, at Ichilov Hospital in 'Tel Aviv', occupied Palestine, October 24, 2023 (AP)
    Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, who was captured in Gaza after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood speaks to the press a day after being released by Hamas, at Ichilov Hospital in 'Tel Aviv', occupied Palestine, October 24, 2023 (AP)

The recent statements and testimonies of the Israeli settlers captured and released by Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades upon their arrival in the occupied Palestinian territories caused a stir in Israeli public opinion.

The released captive's words about the good treatment she received in Gaza led to "Hamas making gains when it comes to public opinion," Israeli media said Tuesday.

"The kidnapped woman, Yocheved Lifschitz, stood in front of the cameras after being released yesterday from Hamas captivity and provided a wide-ranging statement, announcing that she ate the same food that Hamas fighters ate... bread with white cheese, cream cheese, and cucumbers, and she took her medications," an Israeli Channel 12 correspondent reported.

"Many questions continue to arise, especially regarding her positive words about Hamas and their care for her and their provision of medications, while on the other hand, we hear criticism from the political and partisan sides because there is no one by her side," he added.

"For the first time, this is happening on live TV, in contrast to what happens on social media, and it's good that we heard it, but this could have been handled very differently," Israeli Channel 12 political correspondent Yaron Abraham said.

The journalist criticized the government's shortcomings in monitoring the situation. "Someone could have reached out to her, but this didn't happen, not from the committee for missing persons and prisoners, not from the Prime Minister's office, nor from any official party, and they could have told her what she was allowed to say and what she was not allowed to say."

 Facing a new dilemma

He also wondered, "I don't know what the story is, and personally, I find it surprising. Is Yocheved story a special case of good treatment by Hamas, and is that the reason for her release? Did Hamas plan all of this in advance, meaning treating her well, so that she can commend their treatment of her?"

Related News

Al-Qassam honors Sayyed Nasrallah: Gaza will never forget

Islamic Jihad delegation arrives in Egypt for Gaza ceasefire talks

"Although we cannot be certain that all Israeli captives held by Hamas are receiving the same treatment now, the image is clear of an 85-year-old woman emerging from Hamas captivity and talking about how she was allowed to eat and how her medications were cared for. It's evident that Hamas has scored positive points, so we must learn from this event and not be too hasty. We are facing a new dilemma."

Israeli captive Yocheved Lifshitz, who was released by the Qassam Brigades yesterday, said that the Al-Qassam Brigades were very friendly towards them, took care of them, and provided them with medicine.

During the press conference held in a hospital in "Tel Aviv", she was asked why she shook hands with a member of the Hamas movement, she said it was because "They treated us very well."

Footage from al-Qassam Brigades' release of two captured elderly Israeli settlers.

One can clearly see the disparity in the treatment of captives and prisoners between the #Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation, respectively. pic.twitter.com/JbcyJOeH2F

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 23, 2023

She added that the first thing the resistance fighters told them was that they were people who "believed in the Quran and would not harm them", adding that they would get the same treatment the resistance members were getting. 

She said that each of the five hostages in her group was looked after by a doctor, adding that there was also a paramedic who kept track of the medications.

'Mistake'

On the other hand, the Israeli Kan channel quoted sources from the Israeli public relations office saying that "allowing Yocheved Lifshitz (the released captive) to make a direct statement was a mistake."

Releasing Lifshitz comes after the Hamas movement accused the Israeli occupation of assassinating Palestinian prisoner and senior Hamas movement member Omar Hamza Draghma on Monday while on administrative detention in "Israel's" "Megiddo" prison.

Draghma, the 58-year-old leader from Tubas, was arrested alongside his son at the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, according to Palestinian sources, as part of a detention campaign led by the Israeli Occupation Forces across the West Bank.q

Last week, Abu Obeida revealed that the Resistance is holding captives of different nationalities, adding that there was no opportunity to verify their identities amid Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, vowing to keep them safe and treat them well, keeping in mind the indiscriminate Israeli strikes and shelling on Gaza.

He called on all the countries to warn their citizens against fighting alongside the Israeli army, confirming that the Resistance would release foreign prisoners "if the necessary conditions are met."

  • Occupied Palestine
  • Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Hamas
  • Al-Qassam Brigades
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli armored vehicle moves on a street of a local market during a military raid in the West Bank refugee camp of Balata, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth near Ramallah amid raids

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran interested in resuming nuclear talks: Lavrov

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2025 (AP)
Politics

IMF head flags US budget, Europe Defense spending challenges

Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at UN headquarters (AP)
Politics

Meloni faces ICC complaint over Gaza genocide complicity with Israelis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS