A memorial ceremony was held in Israel’s Kibbutz Nir Oz to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack that devastated the agricultural commune located just a few miles from Gaza. The kibbutz, home to 400 residents, was one of the hardest hit by the attack, with one in four individuals either murdered or kidnapped.
Among the victims were the Bibas family, consisting of husband and wife Yarden and Shiri, their young son Ariel, and baby Kfir, who were among those kidnapped and are still being held in Gaza along with more than 20 others from the kibbutz.
During the ceremony, a poignant moment occurred as the names of those who lost their lives in the kibbutz last year were read aloud. The speakers struggled to maintain composure as they recited the long list of names, pausing to collect themselves when emotions ran high.
Amat Moshe, a descendant of kibbutz residents, expressed the sentiment that the community cannot fully move forward while their fellow members remain in captivity in Gaza, highlighting the sense that time has stood still for Nir Oz.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was in attendance at the commemoration, having also participated in a memorial event at the Nova festival site earlier in the day. Despite the somber occasion, the Israeli military reported several projectiles being fired from Gaza towards Israel, with ongoing artillery fire heard throughout the morning as military operations continued.
Following the attack, most of Nir Oz’s residents have yet to return, with the majority currently residing together in the town of Kiryat Gat, located approximately an hour's drive away, while only a small number have chosen to come back to the kibbutz.
