ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 404

An IDF reservist at Kfar Aza, October 21, 2023. (Paulina Patimer)
Main image: An IDF reservist at Kfar Aza. (Paulina Patimer)
Photo essay

14 images of Israel from a year of war

Candid moments captured by a volunteer photographer for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as a nation struggles to heal while its captives still in Gaza remain an open wound

Main image: An IDF reservist at Kfar Aza. (Paulina Patimer)

After the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, I realized that I couldn’t simply wait for calmer days and return to my familiar routine. An inner voice urged me to take my camera and venture southward.

I began documenting the affected kibbutzim in the Gaza envelope: Kfar Aza, Be’eri, Nir Oz, Nahal Oz, Kerem Shalom, and other locations, including the Nova party site near Kibbutz Re’im. Each site was steeped in untold stories. The silence screamed with echoes of loss, and the heavy scent of death and fear hung in the air.

This past November, I volunteered for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and have served as one of their photographers over the past 11 months. Although I carry my camera everywhere, this role has offered me a unique opportunity to connect with the families, to witness their lives when the camera lights are off, to hear their stories, to hold their hands, and to sit beside them as we collectively call for the safe return of all hostages.

The following photos chronicle my year — journeys from the south to the north, capturing the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, kibbutzim, soldiers, and the impact of the terror attacks. No place, no person, and no heart emerged unchanged by the trials of this challenging year.

Kibbutz Be’eri

A destroyed house in Kibbutz Be’eri, November 3, 2023. (Paulina Patimer)

A destroyed house in Kibbutz Be’eri stands as a haunting testament to the devastation endured. Its shattered walls and rubble evoke a profound sense of loss, a stark reminder of lives forever changed.

Nova music festival site

Memorial site at the location of the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, February 2, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

A large billboard displays the faces of young, beautiful souls who came to dance at the Nova music festival, yet never returned home. Their vibrant smiles contrast starkly with the silence left behind, serving as a poignant tribute to lives tragically cut short.

Hostages’ parents protest on the Gazan border

Parents of hostages near the Gaza border, January 11, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

One of the most challenging moments for me this year occurred when the families of the hostages gathered as close as possible to the Gaza border. They brought large speakers to call out to their loved ones, their voices filled with hope and desperation, yearning for the faintest chance that their cries could be heard.

IDF tank on the Gazan border

Israeli tank along the Gaza border, August 3, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

An Israeli tank rolls along the Gaza border, its crew of smiling soldiers waving at me and calling out, “Am Yisrael Chai!” meaning, “The Nation of  Israel lives on.” Their joyful spirit shines brightly, a powerful expression of hope and unity in the face of adversity.

Kerem Shalom

The Schindler family returns to Kerem Shalom, November 28, 2023. (Paulina Patimer)

I had the opportunity to capture the Schindler family during their emotional first visit to their destroyed home in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom. Amid the devastation, the couple discovered their beloved Hanukkah menorah just days before the Holiday of Lights.

Hostages Square, Tel Aviv

Eli Bibas, the grandfather of young hostages Kfir and Ariel Bibas, at a Tel Aviv rally, August 24, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

Eli Bibas, the grandfather of young hostages Kfir and Ariel Bibas, sits on the stage at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv during a Saturday rally. His eyes reveal a mix of sadness and hope, capturing the resilience of a family longing to be reunited once more.

Rescued hostage reunited with his mother

Andrey Kozlov, rescued by IDF soldiers, embraces his mother Evgeniia Kozlova in Tel Aviv, July 15, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

A beautiful reunion unfolds as Andrey Kozlov, rescued by IDF soldiers, embraces his mother, Evgeniia Kozlova, in Tel Aviv. Their heartfelt moment radiates pure joy and relief, a testament to love’s enduring power in the face of adversity.

Rescued hostage buries her mother

Yaacov and Noa Argamani at her mother Liora’s funeral, July 2, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

Noa Argamani stands beside her father, Yaacov, who fought tirelessly for eight months to bring her home, as they mourn during Liora Argamani’s funeral in Beersheba, just weeks after Noa’s release.

Druze and Jews mourn together

Jewish women grieve alongside the families 12 children killed in a Hezbollah bomb in the northern Druze village of Majdal Shams, July 30, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

Jewish women gather to show support and grieve alongside the families of the northern Druze village of Majdal Shams following one of this past year’s most devastating attacks, when a Hezbollah rocket struck a soccer field, claiming the lives of 12 children. Their presence embodies solidarity and shared sorrow, a powerful testament to compassion in the face of unimaginable loss.

Bereaved father set for battle

Olympic judo coach Oren Smadja (right) comforted by a member of Israel’s judo team, July 22, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

Olympic judo coach Oren Smadja, father of the late master sergeant (res.) Omer Smadja, just moments before departing Ben Gurion Airport for the Paris Olympic Games. His expression reflects a poignant mix of pride and heartache, carrying the weight of his son’s memory as he embarks on this significant journey.

Holy work in Tel Aviv

ZAKA volunteers diligently work to clean the area of a terror attack in Tel Aviv, August 19, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

ZAKA volunteers diligently work to clean the area of a terror attack in Tel Aviv. With unwavering commitment, they honor the lives affected by the tragedy, striving to restore a sense of safety and dignity to the community amid the devastation.

Israelis speak with their feet

Massive protest in Tel Aviv., September 10, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding the immediate release of hostages following the tragic killing of six hostages in Gaza. Their voices united in a powerful call for justice and compassion, echoing the urgency of their plea for those still held captive.

‘We will return’

Hebrew graffiti on a home in Kfar Aza promising to return, March 12, 2024. (Paulina Patimer)

“We will return to Kfar Aza,” juxtaposed with “7 terrorists’ bodies inside,” written on the wall of a devastated Kfar Aza home encapsulates the strength and resilience of the Israeli spirit.

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