Kibbutz Nir Oz

The paint company in Kibbutz Nir Oz has resumed partial operations after Hamas's deadly attack. While the full restoration is expected to take several years, Nirlat remains committed to its community

The collective also marked the birthday of Kfir Bibas, who has now turned one while being held hostage in Gaza.

Asher says that captors told her that Hamas “wants to release us but in Israel no one cares about us.”

Ruti Munder hopes for Israelis to live alongside their Gazan neighbors in peace and mutual respect, but also acknowledges that dream is a farfetched reality, particularly with Hamas in power.

Operation Oz and Nir was launched a few days ago and was named after Kibbutz Nir Oz, which suffered so much at the hands of Hamas.

Judy's husband, Gadi Haggai, 72, was also murdered on October 7, and his body is also still in the hands of Hamas. The two were attacked while they were on a walk that morning in the kibbutz.

While Yoav Shimoni is suffering in his heart over the loss of his beloved grandmother, he says that living with antisemitic fears in Toronto have also become a new discomfort.

In the letter, thanks and appreciation are expressed to the dedicated Thai workers who worked in agriculture at kibbutz Nir Oz. 

“Ten days ago I begged the cabinet, and [we all] warned them that fighting could lead to injury to the abductees. Unfortunately, we were right."

Maor, who immigrated from Ethiopia, fell in battle near Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, deeply impacting both the IDF and his family.