Kiryat Gat, Israel —
Two years ago, almost nobody in Israel could point to Nir Oz on a map.
Now, it’s synonymous with October 7, 2023.
Located just three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the Gaza border, this small agricultural kibbutz was home to about 400 people who lived peacefully among quiet tree-lined paths before the war.
That all changed during the first hours of the terror attack, when the kibbutz was all but burned to ashes, with over a quarter of its residents murdered or abducted – infants, the elderly and entire families among them.
Many members of their community were kidnapped by Hamas and affiliated groups that day and taken captive in Gaza. Nine of their members remained there for 737 days.
Those who lived here before the war have yet to return. On Monday, the community gathered in the city of Kiryat Gat – their temporary community residence – as they waited for the remaining hostages to return to Israel as part of the ceasefire agreement, eager to see their loved ones back home.
For them, the US-brokered deal signals the end of their living nightmare, allowing their community to begin the process of healing and rebuilding.
Inside a community hall early Monday morning, Rita Lifshitz diligently organized the refreshments for the gathering. Her in-laws were taken hostage on October 7.
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