Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu traveled to Kibbutz Nir Oz on Thursday, marking his first visit to the community nearly two years after it suffered one of the deadliest attacks in Israel’s history. The kibbutz lost a quarter of its population to murder or abduction during the Hamas-led massacre on October 7.
Netanyahu had faced sharp criticism for not visiting the devastated southern communities since the outbreak of the war. His arrival at Nir Oz comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the government’s response to the attack and its handling of recovery efforts.
As Netanyahu’s convoy approached the entrance to Nir Oz, a group of grieving families staged a protest in an attempt to block his entry. Security personnel accompanying the Prime Minister intervened and prevented demonstrators from halting the motorcade.
While at the kibbutz, Netanyahu was seen embracing Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, who has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Prime Minister.
Speaking during his visit, Netanyahu said: “I am here with my wife Sara, at Kibbutz Nir Oz, opposite the scenes of destruction, devastation, and ruin, with the members of the kibbutz, those who survived, and also those who have returned from being held hostage. You feel, in the depths of your soul, the magnitude of the pain, the depth of the sorrow, the traumas that befell an entire community, and which are still befalling it. I feel a deep commitment, first of all, to ensure the return of all of our hostages, all of them. There are still 20 who are alive, and there are also those who are deceased, and we will bring them all back.
“But there is also a deep commitment to working here to rebuild this kibbutz and bring life back to the people. We will cut through the bureaucracy – and we will rebuild.”
Sara Netanyahu also offered her reflections during the visit, recounting a particularly emotional encounter: “Sagui Dekel Chen, who was held hostage and returned in the previous deal, showed me his young three-year-old daughter’s pacifier. She and her seven-year-old sister, and his wife, held out inside the protected room. They held the door put the young girl’s changing table – this sweet girl – against the door, and this is how they were saved, with heroism and resourcefulness.
“We then heard the story of his mother, who was taken hostage, and managed to escape and return to the kibbutz, which is another story about a courageous woman. I told him that he lives among heroic women. I think that alongside what the Prime Minister said, stories of devastation, the awful things that happened here, there being no words to describe the tragedy, there were stories of the astounding heroism of people, civilians, women and boys and girls. There was simply resourcefulness, bravery; it is impossible to describe where the strength came from. There were awful tragedies here.”
Netanyahu concluded his remarks with a reference to a familiar source of comfort and faith: “Our sources say: ‘The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.’ . The Lord will also bless this kibbutz – Nir Oz – with redemption and being settled.”
{Matzav.com Israel}