Ravaged Kibbutz Nir Oz votes to rebuild as ‘victory’ over Oct. 7 destruction
Community calls on government to help reconstruction while also providing support for those who feel they cannot return to their homes due to trauma of Hamas massacre
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Members of Kibbutz Nir Oz overwhelmingly voted Monday to rebuild their community, which was destroyed in the massive Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, 2023.
The kibbutz, near the Gaza border, said in a statement it believes that the reconstruction and the return of residents will be “the real, meaningful victory.”
Most of the families of Kibbutz Nir Oz have not returned home yet. The small kibbutz was one of the hardest-hit of the southern communities on October 7: 117 of its 400 residents were either killed or kidnapped. There are still 29 hostages from Nir Oz being held in Gaza.
Only seven out of 220 homes in Nir Oz were untouched by the violence of October 7.
Members expressed their expectation for a large-scale, generous construction funded by the state out of a desire for the community’s revival.
The kibbutz also called for the government to do everything in its power to return the hostages still in captivity, and to provide support for those who do not feel able to resume living on the kibbutz.
“There will be those who will not want or be able to return to live in Nir Oz due to the trauma and personal loss they experienced,” the kibbutz said in the statement while noting that, nonetheless, they are still part of the community.
Assisting those who choose to not return should be part of the overall government effort to reestablish the kibbutz, they wrote. “Our door will remain open to them to return in the future if only they are able.”
Many Nir Oz members have been highly critical of the government throughout the war. Residents did not participate in a second state ceremony to memorialize victims of the Hamas massacres held last month close to the Hebrew date of the Hamas massacres. The controversial second ceremony followed earlier events held on October 7.
The kibbutz said at the time that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not responded to an invitation to visit the community.
