Here Lived
This was Ilana and Matan’s home. A small house in Nir Oz, full of love, laughter, and the fragrance of fresh baking. They worked together in agriculture, in the Canndoc company’s greenhouses – planting, harvesting, getting their hands dirty with soil and building a simple but full life for themselves.
Ilana moved to the kibbutz from Eilat, bringing a small home-based pastry business and long-held dream of living in a close-knit community with her. Ever since she made aliyah from Mexico, she knew she wanted to live on a kibbutz. When she arrived, she found her furniture were too heavy to assemble on her own. She asked Matan for help – and he came. But he didn’t just put the furniture together; he became an inseparable part of her life. They became a couple, and little by little, Ilana brought Matan from Ofakim to the kibbutz, into the home they built together.
But on October 7th, it was all torn to shreds.
October 7th
Terrorists stormed their home. Gunfire, shattered doors, unrelenting fear. They had no choice but to escape through the safe room window. Then came the moment that changed everything: a final glance before they were taken. They parted with one last look.
Ilana spent 55 days in Hamas captivity – 55 days of hunger, pain, fear, and uncertainty.
What Happened Since
After returning to Israel, Ilana was not truly back. Her body was free, but her soul remained in Gaza, where time stood still and fear took hold. She did not stop for a moment. She acted relentlessly on the promise she made to the hostages she left behind in the tunnel – that she would do everything to bring them home. For Matan, and for all the hostages.
And indeed – after 738 days in Hamas captivity, Matan was released, along with 19 other living hostages, as part of the hostage release agreement.
About three months later, Matan proposed to Ilana. Today, the two of them can begin their rehabilitation together. Because although their home is no longer there, they will fight to get back the life they built together.
