In a deeply symbolic and emotionally charged visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Nir Oz kibbutz near the Gaza Strip on Thursday for the first time since Hamas militants launched a deadly cross-border attack nearly 21 months ago. The visit came as Netanyahu faces mounting domestic pressure over his government’s failure to prevent the assault and growing demands for the safe return of hostages still held inside Gaza.
During his tour of Nir Oz — a small, once-thriving community devastated by the October 7, 2023, Hamas incursion — Netanyahu and his wife Sara encountered raw emotion from the residents who survived the horrors of that day. For many, the memory of losing almost a quarter of their community remains an open wound.
Facing both loud protests and tearful embraces, Netanyahu pledged unwavering commitment to the families who continue to wait for news of their loved ones. “I feel a deep commitment — first of all to ensure the return of all of our hostages, all of them,” he declared during his visit, acknowledging that 20 hostages are believed to still be alive, while others are presumed dead.
The October 2023 attack by Hamas fighters, described by many historians as the deadliest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 251 hostages back into Gaza. The impact of that day continues to shape Israeli politics, security policy, and public trust in Netanyahu’s leadership.
Residents of Nir Oz shared their pain directly with the prime minister. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan was kidnapped and is thought to be alive in Gaza despite battling muscular dystrophy, confronted Netanyahu with a heartfelt plea. After hugging him, she took to social media to stress her message: “I stressed to him that he has a mandate from the people of Israel to reach a comprehensive agreement for the return of all 50 hostages, the living and the fallen. Now is the time for action.”
Netanyahu has also vowed to help Nir Oz rebuild from the devastation left behind by Hamas fighters who tore through the kibbutz. For many survivors, that promise comes as small comfort without concrete progress on the hostage crisis.
The political stakes for Netanyahu are intensifying. On Monday, he will travel to the White House to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire aimed at halting the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The plan reportedly includes a phased release of the remaining hostages in exchange for pauses in fighting — a deal that many hostage families see as their only hope.
Meanwhile, the human toll in Gaza continues to rise. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign in response to the October 7 attack. The intense bombardment and ground fighting have displaced over 2 million people and left the coastal enclave in ruins, with food shortages and widespread suffering triggering international concern.
Netanyahu’s visit to Nir Oz highlighted the stark reality that nearly two years on, the wounds of that day remain fresh for families on both sides of the conflict. While some residents offered him support, others demanded results, not just words.
As Israel’s leader prepares for high-stakes negotiations in Washington, many in Nir Oz — and across Israel — are waiting to see if the promises made in front of broken homes and grieving families will finally bring answers, accountability, and an end to this dark chapter.
Whether the ceasefire proposal and hostage deal can succeed remains to be seen. For the people of Nir Oz, whose fields are now scarred with memories of unimaginable violence, the only hope is that their village may one day see healing, safety, and the return of those still missing — alive or lost, but never forgotten.
