Key facts
- Keith Siegel was held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 484 days after the October 7, 2023 attacks.
- Keith and Aviva Siegel were abducted from their home in Kfar Aza.
- The October 7 attacks resulted in 1,209 deaths in Israel, including 36 children.
- In the Nir Oz kibbutz, 47 people were killed and 76 taken captive.
- Approximately 60% of houses in Nir Oz were destroyed on October 7.
- Aviva Siegel has written a book, 'Survived to Tell', about her ordeal.
Three years after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, survivors continue to grapple with profound trauma and the challenges of rebuilding their lives. Keith Siegel, who endured 484 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, described living a "dual life," where intrusive memories of his ordeal constantly resurface.
Siegel and his wife, Aviva, were among the 251 people taken hostage during the deadliest day in Israel's history. On that day, Hamas militants breached the border, attacking kibbutzim, towns, military bases, and a music festival, resulting in 1,209 deaths, the majority civilians, including 36 children, according to Haaretz.
In the Nir Oz kibbutz, the impact was particularly devastating, with 47 residents killed and 76 taken to Gaza, representing over a quarter of the community. Shlomo Margalit, an 89-year-old founder of Nir Oz, tends to the graves of friends and neighbors, viewing the rebuilding of the kibbutz as his life's project. He acknowledges the difficult choice between creating a living community and preserving the physical remnants of the attack as monuments.
Approximately 60% of the houses in Nir Oz were destroyed. While some families have returned and new homes are being built, paths still lead between blackened ruins. Margalit and his wife, Hanna, returned to rebuild, though he requested a home not facing Gaza. The Siegels, from the heavily hit kibbutz of Kfar Aza, have decided not to return, focusing on their recovery. Aviva Siegel described the approach of the anniversary as particularly painful, stating, "The last couple of weeks all I want to do is cry."
Aviva has written a book, "Survived to Tell," about her experience, viewing it as therapy and a celebration of survival. Keith Siegel advocates for an independent inquiry into the events of October 7 to prevent future tragedies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly opposed such an inquiry.