Transcript [00:00] [music] [00:04] Three years ago, Kamas terrorists [00:06] murdered 64 people and kidnapped 19 from [00:10] Kibutar Aza where Khanita Baram and Alon [00:13] Tal lived. Khanita lost her eldest son [00:16] and Alon lost his friends. They [00:19] themselves both survived the attack and [00:22] now they are in the Netherlands to share [00:23] what they went through. Khanita Alon, [00:26] welcome in our show and thank you for [00:27] coming here. We appreciate them very [00:29] much. Thank you. [00:30] >> It has been 3 years since thousands of [00:33] kamas terrorists infiltrated Israel and [00:35] they carried out this massive bloodbath [00:38] that we also talk about a lot in this [00:39] studio. Now you are here in Netherlands [00:42] to tell your story about the day. Why do [00:44] you feel it's so important to to share [00:46] what you went through on the 7th of [00:48] October in 23? I want people to hear our [00:52] story and from firsthand [00:56] >> because there are many stories going on [00:58] about October 7th that didn't even [01:01] happen [01:03] and I wish it didn't but it did. [01:06] >> Mhm. [01:06] >> And it's very meaningful for me to be [01:09] here and tell our story and tell about [01:11] my son. [01:12] >> Mhm. I want everyone to know and [01:16] remember us and remember all the people [01:19] that were brutally murdered that day in [01:21] Kaza and all over Israel. [01:24] >> Is it difficult for you to talk about [01:26] this day? [01:27] >> It's not easy but I know how important [01:30] it is. [01:30] >> So that's why I'm here. [01:32] >> That's why you do it. What about you [01:33] alone? Um [snorts] for me other side [01:36] than the the fact that it's important [01:38] for people to hear like in the world [01:42] for me it's almost therapeutic like I I [01:45] see it as something that helps like it [01:48] helped me [01:49] >> it helps you to cope with the trauma you [01:51] >> Yeah it does. [01:52] >> Yeah [01:52] >> it does in a way. [01:54] >> In a way. Yeah. So but thank you for [01:56] coming here. You you both lived in [01:58] Kibutar Aza. [02:00] >> It's very close to the Gaza border. uh [02:03] you lost a tremendous uh thing on that [02:07] day. And now Khanita, your son uh Aviv, [02:10] he was a first responder and that was on [02:13] the 7th of October in the morning very [02:15] early when the terrorist entered Aza. [02:18] How do you think back about your son [02:20] Aiv? [02:22] >> He was a wonderful guy. [02:25] >> He loved everyone. He really did. [02:28] He was so kind to everyone. [02:32] He was kind of a leader [02:35] >> and he made lots of he had lots of [02:38] friends [02:39] all kinds of friends and we meet them [02:42] now and they come to comfort and do [02:45] things for his memory. So [02:51] >> how old was he? [02:52] >> He was 33 years old. He was married. He [02:55] had two small kids. [02:58] my grandchildren Omir and Rani and Keli [03:01] his wife [03:03] and he insisted to live in Karaza [03:08] didn't want to live in Kuraza she was [03:10] afraid she didn't want to raise her kids [03:13] there and he insisted [03:15] >> he wanted to live there [03:16] >> he wanted to live only there built a [03:19] beautiful house there [03:21] >> and just entered it [03:24] >> about a year before [03:26] >> Mhm. October the 7th [03:29] and [03:31] started being a family and raising their [03:34] two lovely kids, [03:37] >> children. Yeah. [03:38] >> And they haven't had an agreement that [03:40] every time the bomb starts we we lived [03:44] about 20 years with bombing from Gaza. [03:47] Mhm. [03:47] >> So they had an agreement that every time [03:49] the bomb starts, [03:51] they just go away to friends or family [03:55] and stay away from the area until it's [03:59] over. And they come back [04:02] and Viv [04:04] asked and talked to many of his friends, [04:07] come back, live in Kaza, we have great [04:09] life here. He tried to convince his [04:12] brother and [04:14] sister-in-law as well. [04:16] >> Mhm. to come to Karazza because he loved [04:19] the life there. It was both like a great [04:22] place to live, but it was also very [04:24] dangerous. [04:25] >> That's right. [04:26] >> Proven. [04:27] >> He was raised there. My two kids, I [04:29] raised them there. [04:31] >> Lived there for 31 years. [04:33] >> Mhm. [04:34] >> And he had lots of friends and he loved [04:38] >> Mhm. [04:38] >> to live there. He loved the community [04:41] >> and the place even though Even though it [04:44] was dangerous. [04:45] >> Yeah. I want to come back of course to [04:47] your story later but alon you were born [04:49] and raised in right? [04:51] >> Yes I was. [04:52] >> So how was the place for you? [04:54] >> Um for me I actually like you talked [04:57] about the threats with the with all the [05:00] kasam and kushot with all the bomb [05:02] >> rockets from Gaza [05:03] >> the rockets like I don't remember a time [05:06] where that wasn't happening like I was [05:09] born into it [05:11] >> and to me that was like the usual thing. [05:14] Uh but other than that living in Farza [05:18] for me was like heaven. [05:20] >> I before October 7th I was very strong [05:23] on the opinion that I will get back to [05:26] the kibuts with a wife and a family and [05:30] will raise my kids. [05:31] >> This was your place. [05:32] >> Yeah. Because I had such a great [05:34] childhood over there. [05:35] >> Yeah. So who did you lose on the 7th of [05:37] October? Um, I mean like I lost a lot of [05:41] people, but uh two of uh really of my [05:44] closest friends uh that were actually my [05:47] neighbors in the young generation [05:50] neighborhood [05:51] >> Neta Epstein and Yuval Buum. [05:55] Yeah, they they were there that day. Not [05:58] like me. I was lucky. [06:00] >> Mhm. [06:01] >> Yeah. I lost. [06:02] >> But if you think about your friends, who [06:03] were they? Why why were they friends to [06:05] you? Um in the kibuts it's um it's [06:09] almost not like you don't choose your [06:11] friends. [06:13] >> It's you are born to a certain group and [06:17] all the kids your age uh you for life we [06:21] still are the group that we started like [06:24] as just little kids. [06:25] >> It's like family. [06:26] >> Yeah. It's like family. There my [06:29] brothers and sister whether I choose it [06:31] or not. [06:32] >> We are bound together. [06:34] >> Mhm. [06:35] So yeah, they I mean like Neta was my [06:39] age which mean like my brother [06:42] >> and Yuval he was younger than me. Uh but [06:47] our like age groups we got really close [06:51] together. [06:52] >> Mhm. [06:54] >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean like Neta was just [06:56] got released from the army and he was [06:59] starting to work in the kibuts in in [07:02] like the [07:03] >> like gardening and he really loved that [07:06] he developed like a full belly [07:10] >> and Uval and like he was really happy [07:14] >> and Uval was [07:17] like he was a very talented musician [07:20] also like a music teacher [07:23] Uh yeah and he actually introduced me to [07:26] a lot of the music I hear now. [07:28] >> Yeah. So Kanita, can you take us back to [07:31] that day? So what happened? You woke up [07:34] in the morning at what time? [07:36] >> 6:30. About 6:30 I woke up and [07:38] >> you were at home. [07:39] >> I was at home alone. [07:41] >> There was huge noise outside. [07:44] >> Sirens going on and bombing [07:49] rockets. [07:51] But it was really huge. And I went to my [07:55] safe room as usual [07:56] >> when there are rockets and sirens going [07:58] on. [07:59] >> It was more than the usual. [08:01] >> But it was more than usual. And I [08:03] started looking in my cell phone. What [08:06] happened during the night? [08:08] >> How come [08:10] this is happening? Something very [08:12] unusual. It was lots of noise and [08:16] [clears throat and snorts] [08:16] >> and rockets and sirens. Did it didn't [08:20] stop. [08:20] >> No. And about 10 minutes later, [08:24] my son that was part of the first [08:27] responders, [08:29] he wrote me a text and he said, "Mommy, [08:32] close your house." [08:35] I wrote him back, "Why? What happened?" [08:38] But I went and locked the doors because [08:41] they were not locked. I usually slept [08:45] with doors not locked, windows open. [08:47] >> And then he texted me back. and the [08:51] windows as well. [08:52] >> Yeah. Yeah. Because you say your son was [08:54] a first responder. Can you explain what [08:56] that means? [08:57] >> It's a group of volunteers [08:59] >> that [09:01] are trained twice a year. Not very [09:06] specific training, but to to [09:11] control some um security situations in [09:15] the kibuts. [09:16] >> So they take care of the sec security, [09:18] >> but they never did before. No, [09:19] >> it's was the first time they actually [09:22] had to do something. They were just [09:24] trained to do it. And the order was they [09:27] were they had two orders. One, not to [09:29] keep the weapons at home, [09:31] >> only in the armory. [09:33] >> Mhm. [09:33] >> Because the army was afraid of thieves [09:36] that will take the weapons. And the [09:38] other thing that was said to him to [09:41] them, they have to keep the the kibbut [09:44] safe for about 15 minutes until the army [09:47] >> arrives comes in to help. Right. Yes. [09:49] >> Maximum 15 minutes. The army should be [09:52] there and [09:54] >> and take charge. [09:55] >> Yeah. But he texted you. He said, "Close [09:57] your house. Make sure that nobody can [09:59] enter your house." What did you think [10:01] back then? [10:02] >> I I didn't understand what's going on. [10:05] Now I know he probably saved my life. [10:08] >> I didn't save his, but he saved my life [10:11] >> because everything was open. The windows [10:13] was were open. And a few minutes later, [10:17] I started her hearing [10:20] people banging on my door and my windows [10:24] and going up the staircase outside my [10:27] house to the roof and shooting from [10:29] there all over. And I started hearing [10:33] Arabic [10:34] shouts outside and I was locking myself, [10:40] closing myself in the in the safe room. [10:42] Did you realize at that moment what was [10:44] happening? [10:46] >> I don't think so. I I was very busy with [10:49] my cell phone, with the WhatsApp. [10:51] Everyone around asked me what's going [10:54] on. [10:55] >> What happened? [10:56] >> Yes. But I didn't know [10:58] >> and I was trying to to keep in touch [11:02] with my daughter-in-law to see if she's [11:04] okay with the kids. I [11:05] >> I didn't understand that Aviv went out [11:08] of the house [11:09] >> to protect protect. I I understood it [11:12] just later. [11:13] >> Right. But you were alone, locked in [11:15] into your safe room and you heard people [11:18] uh Palestinian terrorists walking on the [11:21] roof of your house. [11:22] >> Yes. and shooting [11:23] >> and shooting [11:24] >> shooting all around and we we got a [11:29] message on the WhatsApp group to uh h to [11:33] um [11:34] >> to hold [11:34] >> hold the handle [11:36] >> safe room [11:37] >> because the safe room is designed the [11:40] way that you can't lock it from the [11:42] inside. [11:44] >> So I started holding the handle and very [11:49] soon I realized I have no chance. How [11:53] how can [clears throat] I hold the [11:55] handle if the Palestinians are coming [11:58] against them? I have no chance holding [12:00] it. [snorts] So I looked around and I [12:03] had small desk in the safe room and I [12:07] crawled down under the the the desk and [12:11] I had a suitcase there. I put it in [12:14] front so if they will come in hopefully [12:18] they won't see me. [12:20] >> And I sat there. for more than 20 hours [12:23] and waited. [12:24] >> What about you Alon? You were not in the [12:26] kibbuts when 7th of October started. So [12:30] what was the first thing you heard about [12:32] what was happening in the south? [12:35] >> I mean like the first thing I heard was [12:37] actually I mean like I didn't hear it. I [12:39] saw it on the WhatsApp groups. [12:42] >> Uh it was actually like a screenshot of [12:45] the [12:47] >> Kiboot's WhatsApp group of of the [12:50] mothers. Mhm. [12:51] >> And they said like they the screenshot [12:55] said that they saw people like all [12:57] wearing black [12:59] >> like running in the streets of the [13:01] kibuts. [13:02] >> This was the first [13:04] >> the first thing that I like understood. [13:07] Okay, something's weird is happening. [13:09] But [13:09] >> because where were you at that time? [13:11] >> I was up north. I was working in [13:13] agriculture in the Golden Heights. [13:16] >> So far away from [13:17] >> Yeah, far away. When I saw the the text [13:20] messages I of people who were like black [13:24] and with guns, [13:26] like I thought it wasn't real. [13:28] >> Like I was sure it maybe some kids [13:31] pulling a prank, but after that I [13:33] started seeing the videos of like [13:36] tractors putting up the fences in our [13:39] kibuts and uh terrorists on on pickup [13:43] trucks in St. [13:44] >> Yeah. [13:46] >> That's when I understood. Okay. [13:48] >> So that was the time you realized that [13:50] it was very [13:50] >> Now it's something that never happened [13:52] before and it's like even when I saw it [13:56] like unfolding through the WhatsApp [13:58] messages, [13:59] >> it was really hard to understand what [14:01] was actually happening because [14:04] >> like we tried like the people from at [14:07] least me from the outside and a lot of [14:09] other people to maybe decipher the route [14:14] of the terrorist in the kibuts because [14:17] were actually trying to to to [14:20] discover what was going on to in order [14:22] to help the kibbut. [14:23] >> Yeah, exactly. Try to connect with war [14:26] rooms of the army and notify them and [14:29] get them intel. Uh we just try to do [14:32] everything we could. [14:34] >> Did you have time in the beginning to [14:35] think about people that were still ina [14:38] like your friends? [14:39] >> I talked to them. I talked to them [14:41] through the WhatsApp groups also like in [14:44] the private messages. [14:45] >> Mh. [14:46] And initially I thought it will be all [14:49] fine and it will be over soon. But [14:52] >> and what about your family? [14:53] >> Uh my family they were there actually [14:56] pretty soon when it started my mother [15:00] told me that her friend like a good [15:02] friend of hers just got broken into by [15:06] the terrorist and she told me don't tell [15:08] anyone because we don't want to like [15:11] create panic. the we're [15:14] waiting for the army and the first [15:17] response squad to get there and manage [15:19] the situation. We don't want to [15:22] >> to cause panic. [15:23] >> Sure. [15:23] >> Uh so when the [15:26] when my little brother who was 16 at the [15:29] time when he messaged me that the [15:31] terrorists are coming in our house now I [15:34] had like a second of thought of what [15:37] what should I do? Should I tell people? [15:39] [clears throat] And after that second, [15:41] it went away pretty fast and I messaged [15:44] everyone I could. [15:45] >> Of course. Yeah. [15:46] >> But did you realize at that moment that [15:48] this was so dangerous for your fans, for [15:51] your [15:52] >> Yeah. Yeah. I I I did but I I didn't [15:54] know like the the size of the event of [15:58] what happening like we thought maybe [16:01] like a few units of terrorists nothing [16:05] more never like the actual I think the [16:09] official numbers are between 200 and 300 [16:12] terrorist [16:14] for us. [16:15] >> Wow. Yeah. So you were waiting in your [16:17] shelter [16:19] >> safe room. In your safe room for how [16:21] long? [16:22] >> For more than 20 hours. [16:24] >> More than 20 hours. [16:25] >> Yes. At about 7:30, [16:28] my daughter-in-law called me and said [16:31] Viv is injured. He called her and he [16:35] told her, first of all, tell everyone [16:37] that they are wearing IDF uniform, so [16:40] don't open your doors. You mean the [16:42] terrorists were wearing [16:43] >> wearing IDF uniform. Don't open the [16:46] doors. [16:48] And then he said he's injured and [16:51] get help. Get the army. Where are they? [16:56] And then she called me and said Aviv is [16:59] injured. I I I didn't I I couldn't [17:05] I I couldn't understand [17:07] what are what is she talking about? [17:09] Where is he? [17:10] >> Yeah. [17:11] And and then she said, "Come, please [17:15] come to be with me in the to be with the [17:18] kids. I'm going to rescue him." [17:21] >> I told her, "What are you talking about? [17:23] How can you go and rescue him? There's [17:25] an army. [17:26] >> What can you do?" Yeah. [17:27] >> There there's rockets outside. There's [17:31] >> terrorists. Many terrorists there. There [17:33] are shooting. I'm not coming to your [17:35] house. Although it's 5 minutes walk. And [17:38] you're not going anywhere. keep the kids [17:41] safe. He'll be okay. He will be okay. [17:43] He's a big guy and there's the army that [17:46] will rescue him. How come you want to go [17:48] and rescue him? [17:52] >> And she said, "Okay, I'll try to get [17:55] other help." [17:58] And um [18:00] now we know what really happened there. [18:03] when he arrived and he started fighting [18:08] the they they he and his few friends [18:11] that were with him [18:12] >> started fighting and they saw there were [18:15] so many terrorists they started to [18:17] retreat and figure out what to do and [18:20] how to get help [18:22] >> and then he saw two of his friends from [18:26] the first responders [18:28] >> team on on the grass and he said but we [18:31] can't leave them here they are injured [18:33] and He ran to try to save them and he [18:37] was shot during this run. And then he [18:40] called his wife and then he called [18:44] um the wife of his friend that was [18:47] >> near him and he told her, "Your husband [18:50] says he loves you." [18:54] And then another [18:58] friend from the this unit shouted to [19:01] him, "I'm coming to rescue you." So he [19:04] told him, "Don't come. You will be shot [19:06] as well. You'll be killed as well. Go [19:09] and get help." Because they were on the [19:11] roofs and they were ambushing all this [19:14] area of the armory in Karaza. [19:19] and the friend went. So, he probably [19:22] saved his life, too. [19:23] >> Wow. [19:23] >> Yeah. [19:24] >> And um the last words he wrote for us in [19:28] the WhatsApp group was, "He loves [19:30] everyone." [19:32] And I didn't understand why does he [19:34] write me now? He loves everyone. [19:36] >> He was saying goodbye actually. [19:38] >> Yeah. But I didn't I I couldn't, you [19:40] know, understand that in that moment. I [19:42] couldn't. [19:44] And [19:46] I I tried to get help. No one answered. [19:51] Tried to get some medical help. No one [19:55] answered. [19:57] Now I know that no one could get to him. [20:00] But when we went out of the kibuts many [20:04] hours later, [20:06] >> we we try we went to all the hospitals [20:09] in the area trying to figure out where [20:12] he is because there were many people [20:14] that came in to the hospitals that were [20:16] weren't recognized and weren't in the [20:19] lists. [20:19] >> So we went to try to recognize where is [20:22] he? [20:24] Just only Monday afternoon, we got a [20:28] telephone call that he was recognized. [20:30] >> This is two two days afterwards, [20:33] >> almost three days after he he phoned and [20:36] said he's injured [20:38] >> and they found him in the same spot [20:41] >> he was. [20:42] >> Yeah. [20:42] >> When he phoned and [20:45] >> no one could get to him. There was a [20:48] >> cool battle there for 4 days. [20:50] >> Yeah. So Alon, you were on a far away [20:54] from your village and you heard also [20:56] heard all the stories coming in and you [20:58] were trying to figure out what was [21:00] actually going on there. [21:02] >> So how did your day continue or your [21:04] days? [21:05] >> Um I mean like I was surrounded by [21:08] people who weren't from the kibuts. As [21:11] soon as it started, I felt the urge to [21:15] come and be with someone from my kibuts [21:17] and try to help in [21:21] >> could understand. [21:22] >> Yeah. So I like eventually I I went down [21:26] to the center of of Israel [21:30] >> to a girlfriend's place like a a friend [21:35] of mine. He has a girlfriend in the [21:38] center. So I went to her house where he [21:41] also was [21:42] >> and like at that time both of our [21:45] families were in the kibuts in the safe [21:48] rooms [21:50] like out of touch like we haven't heard [21:52] from both of them in hours. [21:55] >> Uh so yeah I mean like just being [21:58] together with him with someone who is [22:01] experiencing the same thing it it really [22:04] helped like I [22:06] >> Yeah. So when did you hear about uh the [22:10] about your friends, your true friends? [22:12] >> Um I mean like one of them it took me [22:17] not so long to figure out that he's [22:19] dead. I mean like the [22:21] >> the official saying that he's actually [22:23] dead and they like identified his body [22:28] came like a few days later. But even [22:31] when I was still up north before I went [22:34] down to the center, I already knew he [22:37] was dead because of what people were [22:39] writing in the WhatsApp groups. [22:43] >> Eventually, I mean like I talk about [22:46] Neta now [22:48] >> and he his story is that he was in the [22:52] shelter with in the safe room with his [22:55] girlfriend and he actually saved her by [22:58] jumping on the grenade. Uh and she [23:01] actually like she she she lives on. She [23:05] survived. Yeah. She ran away. She got [23:08] rescued. Actually when she got rescued [23:11] her and the soldiers like they found [23:14] shelter in my apartment because they got [23:17] tackled when they went out. [23:18] >> Yeah. [23:20] >> So yeah, now she leaves on to to tell [23:22] the story, his story. [23:24] >> And what about you? uh Yuval we lost [23:28] touch with him about uh 1:40 I think [23:32] >> in the afternoon [23:33] >> in the afternoon was I was also [23:37] messaging him but he obviously he was [23:39] occupied he couldn't really respond [23:42] >> and the thing about him like his story [23:45] on that day is that we don't know [23:48] >> no [23:49] >> we don't really know the story [23:50] >> until now you don't know it [23:52] >> we don't know it for sure there are some [23:54] speculation ations of stories of things [23:58] that soldiers that were there that they [24:00] saw and think maybe this maybe that but [24:03] we have [24:04] >> exactly [24:05] >> nothing [24:06] like of that that is actually we know [24:10] that happened nothing [24:11] >> what about your family when did you hear [24:13] that they were safe [24:18] >> when like when they got rescued [24:23] uh like [24:25] >> my the the boyfriend of my sister, he [24:30] called me and said that there they were [24:32] rescued because his family went to like [24:37] to get them from Ashkalon. [24:41] >> So yeah, it was about I think [24:46] 7 and a half 8 something like that [24:49] >> in the evening. And that's when like I [24:53] just uh went straight down there to to [24:56] meet them soon as I heard. [24:58] >> Wow. Yeah. So, [25:00] uh you still live you live again in I [25:04] must say. [25:05] >> Yeah. [25:05] >> You don't? [25:06] >> No, I don't. [25:07] >> So, first of all, you isn't it hard to [25:09] live in a place where such horrible [25:11] things happened? [25:12] >> Uh it's really hard. [25:14] >> Yeah. [25:14] >> Yeah, it's really hard. [25:16] >> Yeah. Yeah, I still do it. I mean like I [25:20] have [25:22] I mean like I think about it a lot [25:24] because there was a lot of difficulties [25:26] even bes besides the emotional [25:29] difficulty like physical difficulty the [25:31] whole kibbutz [25:32] >> is still destroyed [25:33] >> was destroyed and is still under [25:35] construction like it comes with a lot of [25:39] prices [25:40] >> and there is still Gaza very close by. [25:42] >> Yeah and we still hear the explosions [25:44] every time. We still even get some [25:47] threats now and then like alarms set [25:50] off. [25:51] >> So why do you want to live there? [25:53] Um to me it's I walk on a very thin line [25:57] of [25:59] either be able to live in the kibuts or [26:03] or live in the country [26:05] >> because if I won't be if I won't feel [26:08] that I can live in the kibuts I can [26:12] always take it a step further because if [26:14] I can't live in the kibbuts [26:16] >> maybe I can't live in Israel. Where [26:18] where would I live in Israel? It's not [26:20] safe. It's not really safe anywhere in [26:22] Israel. [26:23] >> So with that logic, I should flee the [26:26] country, [26:26] >> right? But you [26:28] >> So I really wanted [26:30] >> to be able and to feel to have security [26:34] >> in the kibuts, [26:35] >> especially in the [26:36] >> kanita, you you chose something [26:38] different, huh? [26:39] >> Yes, I did. [26:42] We really didn't get to choose. We were [26:47] evacuated and [26:50] to fame in the center of the country [26:53] fame that really got [26:57] >> got a very welcome warm welcome to us [27:00] very warm welcome and they hugged us and [27:04] >> gave us anything we needed. [27:06] >> Is this a place where you are going to [27:08] stay living? [27:10] >> No. No. So I can stay there until this [27:12] summer [27:14] >> and I have to to decide if [27:17] >> why is that? Because then all the [27:19] evacuees should have their own house. [27:21] That's the reason. [27:22] >> That's right. It it's it's finished the [27:25] evacuation, [27:26] >> right? [27:26] >> The government decided it's finished [27:29] after [27:30] >> not for Kanita. [27:31] >> Yes. But for me as well, [27:34] >> I I have to decide either I I go back to [27:37] my beautiful home in Karaza that I can't [27:40] be there. [27:42] I can't stand it anymore. I lived there [27:44] [clears throat] for 31 years, but [27:46] >> I'm afraid to go back. [27:48] >> Mhm. [27:49] >> In this three years, I was there for [27:52] maybe three or four times just with the [27:55] checklist. [27:56] >> Mhm. [27:57] >> I went to take things I needed and [28:00] >> that's it. [28:00] >> That's it. [28:01] >> Yeah. [28:03] And my daughter-in-law is living in the [28:06] center now of Israel. She wanted a [28:09] stable home for the kids and for her [28:12] after everything. And she said, "I'm not [28:15] going back." [28:16] And my younger son and saw his wife are [28:21] living in Tel Aviv because [28:23] >> she never wanted to come to Kaza. She [28:26] was afraid. So [28:30] I won't go back. [28:31] >> No. So [28:32] >> I can't go back. So [28:33] >> I'm still unsure for you where your [28:35] freedom. [28:35] >> So I have to decide I have to to decide [28:38] what to do. I have very good friends [28:40] there. [28:41] >> I miss them [28:42] >> very much. [28:44] >> My whole life [28:46] >> was destroyed that day. My whole life. [28:49] >> And I don't know. I don't have the [28:52] strength to do anything with myself, but [28:55] I have to. I I I know I have to find [28:58] myself a home [29:00] >> of course for the future. [29:03] >> I have one final question for the both [29:05] of you. Uh because you you come to the [29:08] Netherlands to share your story here. [29:10] Why uh you think it's important that [29:13] people in Holland know know what [29:15] happened on the 7th of October? What [29:17] would be your message to the people [29:19] watching this show? What is important to [29:21] know about Israel and what happened [29:23] there? [snorts] [29:28] Um, I think there's a lot I mean like we [29:31] come here in order to you to have like a [29:34] like first testimony [29:36] >> like um and we want you to hear it from [29:39] the source and we want to tell our [29:41] story. Um and I think we [29:46] we rely on uh also one of the hard [29:50] things that that we rely we rely on the [29:53] rest of the world and currently our [29:54] image is not so good. [29:56] >> Mhm. [29:56] >> Uh so if [30:00] >> it's a responsibility you [30:01] >> Yeah. Exactly. And if I want to ask one [30:03] thing is to help us with that with that [30:06] image because it's so important [30:09] >> for our country in the long run. [30:10] >> Thank you. And what about you, Kanita? [30:13] >> We were blessed that Ruth's Choice [30:15] invited us here this week [30:19] to tell our story. And I I want [30:25] everyone to hear our story and know what [30:28] happened to us and how we lived very [30:32] good life before October the 7th in [30:34] Karaza. [30:35] >> Mhm. and how our lives were destroyed [30:39] and so many people were brutally killed [30:43] there and kidnapped. 19 were kidnapped [30:45] in Kaza. 64 brutally [30:49] >> murdered, [30:49] >> killed, [30:51] children [30:54] and families. [30:56] >> You say it's important that the world [30:58] knows. [30:58] >> I want the world to know that. [31:00] >> I lost friends. I lost students. I lost [31:04] my my ch my friend's children. [snorts] [31:07] I lost my son. [31:09] >> So for me, the whole world needs to know [31:12] that [31:14] >> that happened. That really happened. [31:16] >> Yeah. Thank you both of you, Alon and [31:20] >> Kanita, for coming here and sharing your [31:22] story. [31:23] >> Thank you for having us. [31:24] >> Thank you. [31:24] >> And thank you for watching this show. [31:26] And to keep updated about our work, go [31:29] to our website c4israel.org or and you [31:32] can find articles and also these kind of [31:34] interviews. Thanks again for watching [31:37] and goodbye.
