The Gates of Gaza

1. Pioneering Idealism Meets Harsh Border Reality

“We were young, had no kids, we just didn’t think about the security risks,” Yechiel recalled decades later.

Founding a frontier. In 1953, young Israeli soldiers from the Nahal unit were tasked with establishing Kibbutz Nahal Oz on the Gaza border, just miles from Egyptian-controlled territory. This was part of a strategic vision by leaders like Moshe Dayan and David Ben-Gurion to fortify Israel's borders with civilian life and agriculture. The teenagers, full of Zionist idealism, faced immediate hardships:

• Rough living conditions in sheds
• Daily dawn-to-dusk work in the fields
• Mandatory night guard duty

First blood shed. Only a month after their arrival, the harsh reality of border life struck when nineteen-year-old Ya’akov “Tommy” Tuchman was shot and killed by Egyptian soldiers while patrolling the border ditch. This loss underscored the inherent dangers of their mission, yet despite pleas from some parents, the surviving members chose to stay, bound by a sense of responsibility to the state and each other. Their presence was meant to signal permanence to the Arab world.

Dayan's somber eulogy. At the funeral of Roi Rutberg, the kibbutz security chief killed and mutilated by attackers in 1956, Moshe Dayan delivered a famous eulogy titled "The Gates of Gaza." He acknowledged the Palestinian refugees' suffering and hatred but warned the kibbutzniks that their fate was to be "prepared and armed, strong and determined," bearing the heavy gates of Gaza on their shoulders. This dark prophecy contrasted with some residents' hopes for future peace.

2. Occupation Transforms Relations, Sparks Resistance

“People went to the beach there and stopped in restaurants on the way back. We felt welcome in the beginning,” Daum said.

Post-1967 shift. Israel's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War led to the occupation of the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, dramatically changing the dynamic along the border. Initially, an "open border" policy allowed Gazans to work in Israel and Israelis to visit Gaza, fostering a brief period of interaction and economic interdependence. Residents of Nahal Oz, like Arie "Daum" Dotan, began shopping in Gaza's markets.

Rising Palestinian resistance. The occupation, however, fueled resentment and resistance among Palestinians, particularly refugees who saw Israelis settling on lands they had lost in 1948. Militant groups like Fatah increased attacks. In 1968, a land mine near Nahal Oz killed two kibbutz members, a stark reminder that the conflict was far from over despite Israel's military dominance.

Brutal pacification efforts. Under Ariel Sharon's command, Israel employed harsh tactics to suppress the growing insurgency in Gaza in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This cycle of incursions and reprisals cost hundreds of lives on both sides. While these efforts temporarily reduced attacks, they deepened Palestinian anger and laid the groundwork for future conflict, changing the relationship between neighbors from tentative coexistence to open hostility.

3. Oslo Accords: A Brief Dawn Followed by Darkness

“It was history in the making. We were so happy to see it happen in front of our eyes.”

A new era of hope. The 1993 Oslo Accords, signed by Israel and the PLO, brought a wave of optimism, particularly among peace-seeking communities like Nahal Oz. The agreement led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and limited Palestinian self-rule in parts of Gaza and the West Bank, with the promise of further negotiations towards a final peace agreement. For residents who had long dreamed of coexistence, like Dani Rachamim, it felt like their hopes were finally coming true.

Peace festival celebration. In 1994, Nahal Oz hosted a Festival of Peace, inviting Palestinian families from Gaza to celebrate the new era of cooperation. Israeli and Palestinian children played together, and cultural exchanges took place, symbolizing the potential for a shared future. This event stood in stark contrast to the decades of conflict and seemed to defy Moshe Dayan's earlier pessimistic prophecy.

Violence undermines progress. However, the peace process faced immediate challenges from extremists on both sides. The 1994 Hebron Massacre by a Jewish extremist and subsequent suicide bombings by Hamas and Islamic Jihad killed dozens of Israelis, eroding public trust and strengthening opposition to the accords. Yasser Arafat's perceived "doublespeak" and continued settlement expansion by Israeli governments further fueled disillusionment among Palestinians, ultimately contributing to the collapse of negotiations and the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000.

4. Hamas Rises to Power, Undermining Peace Efforts

“The Israeli response, which included the use of massive military force, only further created a sense of injustice and frustration on the streets of Gaza, and helped make Hamas’s ideology even more popular among the Palestinian public.”

Islamists gain ground. While secular-nationalist groups like the PLO engaged in diplomacy, Islamist organizations, particularly Hamas, focused on building a social and educational network in Gaza. Initially viewed by some Israeli officials as a potential counterweight to the PLO, Hamas gained popularity by providing welfare services and promoting armed resistance against the occupation, especially during the First Intifada (1987).

Challenging the PA. Hamas vehemently opposed the Oslo Accords, viewing the PA's cooperation with Israel as treason. The organization increased its attacks, including suicide bombings, to derail the peace process and challenge the PA's legitimacy. Despite Israeli efforts to suppress it, Hamas's popularity grew, fueled by Palestinian frustration with the lack of progress towards statehood and anger over Israeli actions.

Seizing control. Following Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza in 2005, which Hamas claimed as a victory for its resistance, the organization won the Palestinian parliamentary election in 2006. This led to a power struggle with the PA, culminating in a bloody coup in 2007 that left Hamas in sole control of the Gaza Strip. This division between Gaza and the West Bank became a significant obstacle to future peace negotiations.

5. The Blockade and Qatari Gamble Empower Hamas

“Whoever is against a Palestinian state,” he said, “should be for [the Qatari money].”

Gaza under siege. After Hamas seized control in 2007, Israel, with Egyptian cooperation, imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, severely restricting the movement of people and goods. The goal was to pressure Hamas, but it devastated Gaza's economy and civilian population while Hamas relied on tunnels to smuggle goods and weapons. This policy, intended to weaken Hamas, inadvertently strengthened its control over Gaza's lifeline.

Netanyahu's strategic shift. Prime Minister Netanyahu, who returned to power in 2009, adopted a policy of "quiet will be met with quiet" towards Gaza, prioritizing stability over toppling Hamas. He came to view the division between Hamas-controlled Gaza and the PA-controlled West Bank as beneficial to Israel, as it prevented a unified Palestinian front and reduced international pressure for a two-state solution.

Qatari cash infusion. To maintain quiet and prevent a humanitarian crisis that could force a more costly intervention, Netanyahu's government tacitly allowed and later actively facilitated Qatar's transfer of millions of dollars in cash to Hamas. This controversial policy, opposed by some security officials and politicians like Avigdor Lieberman, provided Hamas with significant resources, which, despite official intentions, were also used to build its military capabilities, including rockets and attack tunnels.

6. Warnings Unheeded: Political Turmoil Masks Looming Threat

In the weeks leading up to October 7, we would later learn, these soldiers had warned that they’d seen worrying scenes through their cameras.

Complacency sets in. Despite Hamas's continued military buildup and explicit threats, Israeli military and political leadership became increasingly convinced that Hamas was deterred and primarily interested in maintaining its rule in Gaza. The focus shifted away from the Gaza border, with troops redeployed to the West Bank to counter rising violence there. The sophisticated underground barrier built along the border fostered a false sense of impenetrability.

Ignored intelligence. Female field observers ("spotters") stationed along the Gaza border repeatedly warned their commanders about unusual Hamas training exercises, including simulations of attacks on Israeli kibbutzim. These crucial intelligence reports were dismissed by higher command, who believed Hamas was not planning a major cross-border invasion from Gaza.

Internal division distracts. Israel's deep political crisis in 2023 over the government's judicial overhaul plan consumed national attention and resources. Mass protests and threats by military reservists to refuse duty were seen by enemies like Hamas and Hezbollah as signs of Israeli weakness and vulnerability. This internal turmoil, coupled with the misjudgment of Hamas's intentions, created the perfect storm for the October 7th attack.

7. October 7th: The Gates Are Breached, Nightmare Unfolds

Our worst nightmare was playing out: Israel’s defensive line—the network of fences, cameras, and other security apparatuses that we had always believed would protect us from the army of terror on the other side of the border—had been breached.

Surprise attack. On the morning of October 7, under the cover of a massive rocket barrage, approximately 3,000 Hamas fighters simultaneously breached the Gaza border fence at multiple points, overwhelming the sparse Israeli military presence. Using bulldozers, explosives, and drones, they bypassed the much-vaunted underground barrier and electronic fence, achieving complete tactical surprise.

Infiltration and terror. The attackers fanned out into Israeli communities and military bases along the border, including Nahal Oz. Residents, like Amir and Miri Tibon, initially sought shelter from rockets in their safe rooms, a familiar routine. However, the sound of gunfire and shouting in Arabic quickly revealed the terrifying reality of a ground invasion.

Chaos and isolation. The scale and speed of the attack paralyzed the Israeli military response. Local security teams were quickly overwhelmed, and reinforcements were slow to arrive or nonexistent in many areas. Residents barricaded in their safe rooms, cut off from communication, faced terrorists breaking into their homes, leading to widespread murder, kidnapping, and devastation across the border region.

8. Trapped and Fighting: Residents and Unexpected Heroes Resist

“I realized this was all we had,” he said. But he was determined to make the most of it.

Local defenders overwhelmed. The kibbutz security team, like Ilan Fiorentino and Nissan Dekalo, were the first line of defense, but they were quickly outmatched by the large, heavily armed Hamas force. Many team members' weapons had been moved to a central armory, making them inaccessible during the surprise attack. Ilan was killed fighting early on, leaving Nissan to coordinate the desperate defense.

Police troopers' heroism. A small team of ten elite police snipers, coincidentally stationed in Nahal Oz, rushed out to confront the terrorists. Despite being heavily outnumbered, they engaged the attackers in fierce close-quarters combat, preventing a larger massacre in several areas, including Amir's neighborhood. Their commander, Saul, and deputy, Amal, along with others like Yakov Karsninski, fought valiantly, suffering casualties but buying crucial time.

Holding the line. Nissan, joined by Beri Meirovitch and the surviving police troopers, raced around the kibbutz in an armored vehicle, battling terrorists and looters, evacuating the wounded, and trying to protect residents trapped in their homes. For hours, they were the only armed force actively fighting inside the kibbutz, facing overwhelming odds but refusing to give up, embodying the spirit of resistance in the face of unimaginable terror.

9. Desperate Journeys: Families Seek Rescue Amidst Chaos

“I’d say they have to go to their granddaughters, and they’ll never forgive themselves if they don’t.”

Parents' race against time. As the attack unfolded, Amir's parents, Noam and Gali Tibon, a retired general and a former principal, embarked on a perilous journey from Tel Aviv to Nahal Oz to rescue their son and granddaughters. Facing roadblocks, firefights, and scenes of horrific carnage on the roads, they pushed forward, driven by the desperate need to reach their family.

Unexpected allies. Along the way, they encountered and rescued civilians fleeing the Nova music festival and later, a small team of Maglan commandos ambushed by Hamas near Nahal Oz. Noam, a former sniper, joined the battle, helping to repel the attackers, but was forced to evacuate wounded soldiers, delaying his arrival at the kibbutz.

Generals to the rescue. In a remarkable turn of events, Noam was joined by another retired general, Yisrael Ziv, who had also rushed to the border area. Together, they convinced a paratrooper unit to prioritize rescuing civilians in the kibbutz over clearing the nearby military base. Noam eventually entered Nahal Oz with the Maglan commandos, finally reaching his family after hours of uncertainty and danger.

10. The Hostage Crisis: Capture and the Long Road to Freedom

“Don’t be a hero. We’re waiting for you.”

Families taken captive. As terrorists broke into homes, many residents were murdered, but others were taken hostage. Families like the Idans, Mirans, Elyakims, and individuals like Judith and Natalie Raanan and Elma Avraham were captured, some after witnessing horrific violence, including the murder of loved ones like Ma'ayan Idan and Tomer Arava. They were subjected to terror, humiliation, and uncertainty.

Journey into Gaza. Hostages were marched or driven from the kibbutz into the Gaza Strip, often separated from family members. Conditions varied, with some held in apartments and others immediately taken into Hamas's tunnel network. They faced fear, deprivation, and the constant threat of death from both their captors and Israeli bombardments.

International efforts and partial releases. The kidnapping of over 240 Israelis and foreign nationals, including women and children, shocked the world and became a central focus of international diplomatic efforts, led by the US, Qatar, and Egypt. Pressure on Hamas and Qatar led to the release of a handful of hostages, including Judith and Natalie Raanan, and later, during a temporary ceasefire, Dafna and Ela Elyakim and Elma Avraham, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing tragedy.

11. Community Shattered: Loss, Displacement, and Uncertain Future

“My life’s mission has ended in failure.”

Devastating losses. Nahal Oz suffered immense casualties on October 7th, with 15 residents and foreign workers murdered, including children and the community's security chief, Ilan Fiorentino. Seven residents were kidnapped into Gaza. For a community of 450, this represented a devastating loss of over 3% of its population, shattering the close-knit social fabric.

Mass evacuation and displacement. The entire community was evacuated to temporary housing, first at a military base and then to Mishmar Ha'emek kibbutz in northern Israel. Residents, from young children to the elderly, were displaced from their homes, many of which were severely damaged or destroyed. This sudden uprooting added layers of trauma and uncertainty to their grief.

Uncertainty and resilience. Living in temporary accommodations, the survivors grappled with immense trauma, grief, and the unknown future of their community. While some, like the elderly residents who moved to a retirement home, faced the possibility of never returning, others held onto the hope of rebuilding Nahal Oz. The resilience shown by residents, from fighting back on October 7th to supporting each other in displacement, became a testament to the enduring spirit of the kibbutz, even as its future remained profoundly uncertain.

Last updated: May 6, 2025