In a dramatic turn of events, 84-year-old Israeli artist Elma Avraham was rescued from the clutches of Hamas militants on Sunday. Having been held hostage since a violent attack by Hamas fighters on October 7, Avraham was immediately rushed to the Soroka Medical Centre's intensive care unit upon her release, in a critically endangered state.
Shlomi Codish, the director of Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel, provided a grim update on Avraham's health. "Elma Avraham is in critical condition," he announced. "After being held captive and seriously neglected for weeks by Hamas, she's now receiving urgent care in our emergency department."
🚨BREAKING: Elma Avraham, the 84-year-old #Israeli woman released today from #Hamas captivity in #Gaza, is currently in critical condition and is fighting for her life. She was taken directly to the hospital via helicopter after exiting Gaza.
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) November 26, 2023
Our thoughts are with her and her… pic.twitter.com/zdbKtX6cWg
The kidnapping of Avraham and other hostages marked a horrific chapter in the region's ongoing conflict. The Israeli army believes that around 240 individuals were taken hostage during the unprecedented attack, with many transported to the Gaza Strip.
Uri Rawitz, Avraham's son, shared a harrowing account of his mother's capture. He recalled speaking to her during the attack and learning she couldn't secure herself in a safe room in time. A disturbing photograph later surfaced, showing Avraham being forcibly taken away on a motorbike by armed militants, alongside another hostage.
Avraham was among 17 hostages released on Sunday after enduring seven weeks in captivity. This release was part of a prisoner exchange, where Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners during a four-day truce that began last Friday.
Elma Avraham (84) is gisteren vrijgekomen in acuut levensgevaar omdat ze verstoken is gebleven van medicijnen gedurende 51 dagen gevangenschap in Gaza. Ze wordt momenteel gesedeerd in het Soroka-ziekenhuis in de hoop haar stabiel te krijgen.
— Gidon the Sluis (@thesluis) November 27, 2023
Zeg een #tefilla voor Elma bat Lea 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Lk9k2Oz7xq
Ziva Leshetzinsky, a close friend of Avraham, emotionally recounted the last phone call she had with the artist on the day of the kidnapping. "I called her at 11:05 on that Saturday morning," Leshetzinsky said. "She told me she was in the safe room, but before she could finish, she abruptly said, 'There are terrorists here,' and the call ended. I tried reaching out for help, but to no avail."
Dr. Shlomi Codish, Soroka Medical Center's director, painted a bleak picture of Avraham's condition. "An elderly woman in poor physical condition was airlifted to Soroka from the Gaza border this evening," he said. "Her life is in danger, and we are doing everything we can in our Emergency Department before moving her to intensive care. Her state indicates a prolonged period without proper care."
Good Monday morning.
— Avraham Israeli Zionist 🇮🇱🇨🇦 (@IsraeliAvraham) November 27, 2023
Day 52 of this ugly war.
Tehillim for 84 year old Elma bat Leah.
More hostages to be released today, may there be no problems.
Pray for the quick release of the rest of the hostages & for our brave chayalim & chayalot.
Am Yisrael Chai V'Kayam!
🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/VkvkTqqdgH
Codish, reflecting on the severity of the situation, condemned the inhumane treatment Avraham endured. "It's horrific to see elderly patients who were held in underground tunnels for seven weeks without any medical care," he lamented, highlighting the disregard for human life in such acts of captivity.
