'Nir Oz was a paradise' Life stands still at kibbutz ravaged by Hamas

Natan Bahat, 82, knew nothing would be waiting for him, but halfheartedly checked his postbox anyway. "Time stopped here on 7 October," he said.
Bahat's family left Nazi Germany and eventually found a home in Israel. As a young man, he became one of the founders of Nir Oz, a kibbutz established in 1955. It was hard work, he said, but he loved the deep connection to the land and to other people central to the kibbutz lifestyle. Now a widower, he raised his family here, and never left.
Today, the dedicated kibbutznik is one of only two people from the once 400-strong community still living in Nir Oz after a quarter of its residents were kidnapped or killed by Hamas during the Palestinian militant group's rampage through southern Israel a year ago. Bahat's home is one of six buildings in the kibbutz left unscathed.
At 6.30am on 7 October 2023 about 150 heavily armed Hamas fighters attacked Nir Oz from three directions, getting through Israel's defences by blowing up security cameras, automated weapons systems and motion detectors before mowing down the fence.
The first group of seven shot out the kibbutz guard post. The security team was quickly outnumbered and most were killed or taken hostage, leaving the community even more vulnerable as the wave of terror began.
Per person, the community at Nir Oz suffered the most heartache, damage and bloodshed, in part because the overwhelmed Israeli army "forgot" about the kibbutz. Soldiers did not show up for hours, by which time all the Hamas fighters, and later waves of civilians and looters, had left.
The Hamas assault on southern Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and another 250 abducted to Gaza, for ever changed the region and the world. Its consequences are yet to fully unfold or be understood.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 05, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 05, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden

Palace could lose European place over Textor shares
Uefa has rejected offers from the Crystal Palace shareholders John Textor and David Blitzer to put their shares in a blind trust to ensure the club can compete in Europe next season.

Chechnya 'Standing at my mother's graveside, I promised to tell her story'
Lana Estemirova was 15 in 2009, when her mother, the renowned Chechen human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, was kidnapped and murdered.

Reform UK chair quits in blow to Farage
Zia Yusuf has resigned as the chair of Reform UK after suggesting that it was \"dumb\" of the party's newest MP to ask the prime minister if he would ban burqas.

Israel 'arming lawless Palestinian gang who are looting aid in Gaza'
Israel's government has been accused of arming a Palestinian criminal gang, whose members have allegedly looted humanitarian aid, in an apparent effort to counter Hamas in Gaza.

Sabalenka breaks new ground before Gauff ends Boisson's journey
After successfully devoting the past few years of her life to becoming a more well-rounded player and mentally durable individual, Aryna Sabalenka arrived on court for her second French Open semi-final certain that she was finally ready for more.
White House ban on travel to US from 12 countries branded 'racist'
Democrats and civil rights groups have condemned Donald Trump's travel ban on 12 countries as \"reckless\" and \"racist\", with some warning the policy may be an effort to distract Americans from the president's much-criticised tax bill.

Natural England Ministers 'wrong to see nature as obstacle to new housing'
The government's leading environmental adviser has said ministers are wrong to suggest nature is blocking development.

Wiegman still has work to do as clouds of doubt hang over England
A glitzy Euro squad launch for the reigning champions to 'go again' helps the feelgood factor but questions remain over team harmony, strength in depth and player welfare

Labour bans bonuses for 10 water bosses amid worsening pollution
Government uses new powers to target top executives at six firms

'No crisis at all' Wiegman hits back over squad withdrawals as James returns
Sarina Wiegman has defended her management style after finding herself without the Euro 2022 winners Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright for July's defence of their European title, saying she does not beat around the bush when it comes to having honest conversations with her players.