On October 7, 2023, as thousands of Hamas terrorists surged across Israel’s southern border in a barbaric surprise attack, one small Israeli community—Kibbutz Re’im—became the site of unimaginable horror… and of incredible heroism.
That morning, over 100 heavily armed terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz. Within minutes, they murdered seven innocent civilians and abducted five more. But what happened next was nothing short of miraculous: a handful of local heroes stood their ground.
An Outnumbered Few vs. a Terrorist Horde
The kibbutz’s local defense squad, made up of just six members, was armed only with home-stored rifles, radios, and their training. They didn’t wait for orders. As gunfire rang out, they split into pairs and took positions to protect their neighbors. These brave souls, joined by off-duty soldiers and police officers, delayed Hamas’s plan to commit another mass slaughter.
Their stand saved lives.
As IDF reinforcements poured in throughout the day—elite Sayeret Matkal soldiers, Golani fighters, and police counterterror units—the defenders of Re’im had already stymied the terrorists’ movements and protected dozens of fleeing Nova festival survivors.
By nightfall, the IDF had retaken the kibbutz. 49 Hamas terrorists lay dead. But the cost was high: 7 civilians, 6 IDF soldiers, and 9 police officers fell in the battle for Re’im. Heroes like Staff Sgt. Guy Simhi, who fought unarmed, and Col. Roi Levy, who led from the front, gave their lives to protect others.
A Legacy of Light Against Darkness
The IDF’s newly released investigation makes one truth undeniable: Israel was not prepared for the scale of evil unleashed on October 7. And yet, in the face of that evil, Israelis rose to defend the innocent. Farmers, parents, off-duty soldiers—ordinary people—fought back.
Hamas is not a resistance group. It is a genocidal terrorist organization. Its aim was not land or rights—it was massacre, abduction, and chaos. In one house, terrorists killed two Thai hostages simply because there wasn’t enough room to take them.
Let us be clear: this was evil. And it was met with courage.
We Remember. We Honor. We Unite.
As Christians and Jews, our shared faith compels us to stand with those who stand for life, truth, and justice.
🕯 We honor the memory of those lost at Re’im.
🛡 We support Israel’s right—and responsibility—to defend its people.
🙏 We pray for the families of the fallen, the wounded, and the rescued.
📣 And we call on the world to recognize Hamas for what it is: a death cult masquerading as a political movement.
May the heroism of Re’im never be forgotten. And may we never be silent in the face of terror.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Israel Lives.