Two Years On at Sha'ar HaNegev Junction

Area residents gather weekly in a place that Hamas controlled

Editor’s Note:

I have now been back in Israel for one week, after a month in Austria, Canada and the U.S.

And what a week it has been.

On Monday evening, all of Israel was riveted to the television for the evening press conference (local time) featuring President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. They jointly introduced and spoke to the White House Peace Proposal, which set out broad principles to underpin a ceasefire and movement toward a permanent co-existence, of sorts. But first, Trump insisted on the immediate release of every single one of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

I live among the communities that survived the horror of October 7 and still do, every single day. Residents of Kfar Aza, a kibbutz that was ravaged on that Black Sabbath, live in temporary housing on my kibbutz, which was, mercifully, untouched. New neighborhoods of quite nice pre-fab homes have been developed to accommodate the homeless. Together, we engage in living and restoring.

Two Kfar Aza residents remain in captivity and are believed to be alive - 28 year old twins, Gali and Ziv Berman. Their faces look out at us everywhere. Even the yellow flags and posters with their photographs are tired, faded, falling over.

But no one can give up. As we say every moment - not until the last one is home.

Late Friday afternoon, I went to a major junction in southern Israel - Sha’ar HaNegev (which translates to “Gate of the Negev”). Here we come together to remember those who remain behind, every Friday evening and again on Saturday night. As you will see from the photos and videos below, it is very much a community event. Such moments are so important for maintaining collective resolve and morale. And we hope that the hostages know, somehow, that we never flag.

Today, in photographs, videos and words, I offer you a glimpse into life in the heart of the area ravaged by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Below are random scenes from Sha’ar HaNegev junction as people assemble and prepare for the short ceremony bringing in Shabbat (“Kabbalat Shabbat”) - the day of rest - which begins at sundown on Friday. The people attending this event are not religiously observant but almost everyone in Israel has their own quirky customs that they follow on Shabbat.

Photo descriptions/translations are provided, below, starting at the top left and moving clockwise:

1. A sign on a vehicle parked along the side of the highway near the Kabbalat Shabbat spot. It reads: “Why is my daddy still in Gaza?” The question was asked by four-year-old Roni Miran-Lavi of her mother, Lishay Miran-Lavi. When she was just two, Roni watched as Hamas terrorists bound her father and kidnapped him and a neighbor, Tsachi Idan. The two families had been held together for hours by masked terrorists in the Idan family home on Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Hamas live-streamed their torment and cruelty.

   Ma’ayan Idan, the eldest of Tsachi’s four children, had turned 18 several days earlier. The balloons were still in the house. Ma’ayan was murdered in her father’s arms as he huddled with his family in their safe room. The terrorists shot into the room, murdering Ma’ayan instantly.

   When taken hostage, Tsachi was in shock and covered in his daughter’s blood. Tsachi was murdered in captivity.

   Roni and her two-year-old sister, Alma, kiss a photo of their dad father, Omri, every day after school and at night before bed. He is believed to be alive.

2. “Omri Miran. We are waiting for you at home!”

3. “Guy and Evyatar are crying out: Save us!” Best friends since they were toddlers, 24-year old pals Guy Gilboa-Dallal and Evyatar David were kidnapped together from the Nova Music Festival. During the release of hostages in February, they were driven in a van very close to the Hamas propaganda stage when three of their peers, Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen were participating in a grotesque “release” ceremony. Evyatar and Guy knew Omer Wenkert from captivity.

   The van door was opened and these two young men watched three other hostages being released. Then, it was slammed shut and they were ordered by the Hamas thugs in the van to deliver a scripted plea to PM Netanyahu to save them. Their despondent faces say everything. A billboard-sized poster of this image has been at the side of Tel Aviv’s busy Ayalon expressway for months now.

   During the summer, a horrifying video of Evyatar - reduced to skin draped over bone and digging his own grave - was released by Hamas. In September another video was published of Guy. He was sitting in a car being driven around Gaza City in the early days of the IDF assault there. Guy said that Hamas was holding him above ground with them, exposing him to all the dangers of battle. This was Hamas’ way of attempting to pressure the IDF not to continue with its siege of Gaza City, their last stronghold. The ruse did not work.

4. “Happy Holidays?” At this time of year, there are successive holidays marking the Jewish new year. Other than on Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement - we typically greet one another by saying - Happy Holiday. But that phrase does not roll off the tongue this year, nor has it at any time since October 7. This poster shows Nimrod Cohen, an IDF soldier captured in uniform, and Matan Zangauker, now 25, who was brutally kidnapped from his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz.

5. “Get them out! Get them out!” Of course, this refers to the hostages.

1 and 2) These road signs are situated at different points at the Sha’ar HaNegev intersection, where two major regional roads meet - 232 and 34. From very early on the morning of October 7, Hamas controlled this junction, murdering anyone who happened to drive through. People trying to flee the barrage of rockets pounding nearby Sderot were trapped by Kalashnikov and RPG fire, everywhere. They didn’t stand a chance.

The distance from Kibbutz Nir Oz - where Road 232 begins its winding route north - to Sha’ar HaNegev junction - where it veers east - is 58 kilometers (36 miles). Along that road are many kibbutzim and moshavim. The Nova Music Festival site was just off 232. The road was littered with death. Bodies. Blood. Charred vehicles. For hours there was no IDF presence.

In a previous episode we speak with Canadian-Israeli independent film-maker, Igal Hecht, who produced a full length documentary, “The Killing Roads.” You can access the podcast and film here.

3. The woman pictured holding the sign sat alone on the opposite side of the main Kabbalat Shabbat gathering. She holds a poster of Rom Braslavski, 21. The image is a screen grab from a psychological torture video of Rom released by his Palestinian Islamic Jihad captors in late July. As his parents remarked at the time, Rom is a broken man. He was unable to even stand when filmed by his PIJ captors. Like Evyatar David, he appeared to be at death’s door but it is believed that he is alive.

1. A portrait of IDF soldier Nimrod Cohen, held captive. He is a Rubik’s Cube enthusiast. After Nimrod was kidnapped, his Rubik’s Cube was found in the tank where he was ambushed by Hamas. Israeli artist Ze’ev (“Shoshke”) Engelmeyer painted this portrait of Nimrod, with a background of his favorite puzzle.

2. The road sign points out the direction for Netivot, a city of 50,000 in the region. Hamas had intended to attack Netivot but missed the turn. While that error spared Netivot it resulted in additional murderers killing in the vicinity of the Nova site, Sderot and elsewhere.

3. The way to Sderot, population 30,000. For two days, battles raged between IDF special forces and Hamas. The Sderot police station was raided by Hamas and scores of police officers died in that siege and the attempted rescue.

4. Sign along the highway: “Why are they still in Gaza?”

Above and below are photos showing how these gatherings include the young, elderly and every age in between. It is impossible to insulate children from the horrors of Hamas. We all lived and live the past and present reality every day. Everyone knows people who were or still are held hostage; who were murdered; who died fighting. Schools lost students and teachers. There is nowhere to hide and no opportunity to look away. What we work hard to do is explain and interpret in an age appropriate way rather than hide and pretend reality is what we wish it was. These images give a sense of the general atmosphere.

Israelis are dog lovers, particularly so when they live in rural areas like Sha’ar HaNegev. On October 7, Hamas slaughtered so many pets, often before their loving families. In front of children. So much gratuitous cruelty.

The yellow sign held by the woman in the photo above the dog reads: “There’s no right. There’s no left. Just straight ahead.” The photo at the bottom left: “Until the last hostage.” And the large photo at the top of this group: “It’s time to decide: Life or Death.” In other words, we’re out of time.

Below are some video clips to give you a sense of the size and vibe of the intersection. Picture Hamas, everywhere. I do. Every time I drive here and along 232. There are also many memorial sites along all the roads, marking the spot where families believe their loved ones were murdered. On October 7, families and friends will gather at these places to honor their loved ones.

For the video above I am standing on the very narrow highway median (not recommended in Israel).

In the video above I am standing across the highway from the Kabbalat Shabbat gathering.

Community members make beaded bracelets in a shaded spot. They are sold to support efforts to maintain awareness of the hostages and their families.

A community member speaking at the beginning of the “official” Kabbalat Shabbat program, reminding us all to continue to raise awareness, bring light into the world and hope for the hostages and their families, above all. The video has English subtitles (credit to Maya Naftolin). I only filmed a portion of the speaker’s remarks. Short and meaningful.

At the end of the ceremony, songs were sung. Some mournful, some wistful. And, as is done at every support rally for hostages, the names of those remaining in captivity were read aloud. The crowd responds after each name is read by saying “achshav” (“now” in Hebrew). My recorder was not turned on at the beginning so you hear this call and response from about one third of the way through. It always gives me shivers:

On Saturday night, we gathered again. Same place. Same reason. Many of the same people. Just more.

Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelaviv