'I will do everything I can to rehabilitate Nir Oz,' he said on release

In freed hostage Gadi Mozes, many Israelis see embodiment of ‘kibbutznik’ spirit

Kibbutz Nir Oz resident, 80, hailed as ‘salt of the earth’ after image of him walking among masked terrorists as he was released from Gaza, with what appears to be a faint smile

Gadi Mozes, 80, surrounded by gunmen during his release from captivity in Khan Younis, Gaza, January 30, 2025 (Via social media)
Gadi Mozes, 80, surrounded by gunmen during his release from captivity in Khan Younis, Gaza, January 30, 2025 (Via social media)

JTA — Thursday’s chaotic hostage release, which saw a crush of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters push two captives through a restless crowd, shocked viewers and sparked a crisis in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

It also left Israelis with at least one lasting image: Hostage Gadi Mozes, 80, walking upright among the masked gunmen, with what appeared to be the faintest of smiles on his face.

To many Israelis, the photo symbolized not only the resilience of an elderly hostage after almost 16 months of captivity; it was also a testament to the particular Israeli way of life Mozes embodies.

Several of the posts emphasized that Mozes is a kibbutznik — a resident of the border community of Nir Oz who, before October 7, 2023, was known for his potato farming. But to Israelis, the word “kibbutznik,” especially when applied to an octogenarian, connotes more than just an address.

This handout image released by the Hamas Media Office on January 30, 2025, shows hostage Gadi Mozes during his handover to a Red Cross team in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. (Hamas Media Office/AFP)

While Israel’s kibbutz movement has declined over the past 40 years, in the early days of the country — Mozes’ youth — the kibbutz symbolized a pioneering ethos, a hardy work ethic and a communitarian spirit. In past decades, kibbutzniks comprised a disproportionate share of Israel’s military and political leadership.

To some of those who shared the photo of Mozes, that’s the message that came through.

“He’s the salt of the earth, a classic kibbutznik,” one Israeli posted on X.

“Wow Gadi Mozes, 80-year-old kibbutznik, made of humanity’s toughest stuff,” Ram Shefa, a former Israeli lawmaker, posted on Facebook above the photo. “Welcome back to the community of Nir Oz and Israel.”

“We have Gadi Mozes, an 80-year-old alpha male, a strong kibbutznik,” wrote another Israeli on Facebook. “Survived for a year and a half and returned a hero.”

The photo is the latest instance, during this ceasefire, of Israelis turning an image of the hostages’ suffering into a symbol of national pride. First, Mia Schem’s post-release tattoo “We will dance again” became a mantra for survivors of the Nova music festival massacre. Most recently, Emily Damari’s hand — with fingers blown off — was transformed into the “rock on” symbol and was quickly adapted into a variety of graphics. More recently, Jews around the world paid homage to Agam Berger, another hostage released Thursday, who braided her fellow captives’ hair ahead of their release.

Mozes’ story had already spread across Israel before his release — how he attempted to negotiate with terrorists to spare his family, and how his longtime partner, Efrat Katz, was killed on October 7. Her daughter and two grandchildren were also taken hostage and released in the November 2023 ceasefire, as was Mozes’ ex-wife.

Freed hostage Gadi Mozes reunites with his children (from left) Oded, Moran and Yair at an IDF facility near Re’im on January 30, 2025. (IDF)

The Israeli government released footage of Mozes reuniting with his three children, where his smile was replaced by tears as he hugged and kissed them and, according to local reports, learned for the first time that Katz had died on October 7.

But first, the kibbutzik persona shone through. One of the videos shows him sitting on a couch, moments before seeing his children, and saying in a hoarse voice, “I will do everything I can to rehabilitate Nir Oz.”

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