On October 7, hundreds of terrorists infiltrated the quiet kibbutz of Nir Oz in the Gaza border region. The only ones who stepped up to defend the community were members of the local standby unit, who fought heroically, a handful against hundreds. Others fought to keep the safe room doors shut, protecting themselves and their families alone for hours of terror. Security forces arrived only after the last terrorist had left.
By the end of that horrific day, the scale of the massacre began to emerge: one in four residents had been murdered or kidnapped. In total, 117 girls and boys, elderly men and women were either murdered or abducted, more than a quarter of Nir Oz's population.
Sixty-four residents were murdered, including at least 14 who were taken alive from their homes and later murdered in captivity.
Seventy-six people, children, men and women, were kidnapped from Nir Oz on October 7. Nine remain in captivity: David and Ariel Cunio, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Amiram Cooper, Tamir Adar, Ronen Engel, Aryeh (Zalman) Zalmanovich and Eliyahu (Churchill) Margalit.
Forty women and children were released as part of the November 2023 agreement. Two hostages were returned in a unilateral move by Hamas. Nine more, men and women, were released in a second agreement signed in January 2025.
Twelve murdered hostages were returned to Israel for burial following military operations. Another six, who had been kidnapped alive and murdered in captivity, were returned for burial under the second agreement.
The homes of the kibbutz were damaged, looted and set on fire, with the residents still inside.
Every home in Nir Oz has a story. In a community-driven initiative, residents have shared their personal accounts of those stories, in their own words. This ongoing, one-of-a-kind project presents firsthand testimonies, photos and videos from both past and present.
The stories published here include only those families who agreed to share their experiences with Israel Hayom. Additional testimonies and stories can be found on the Nir Oz kibbutz website.
