Here lived
Osnat and Haim Peri lived in this home. They have five children and 13 grandchildren.
Haim was born in Givatayim in 1944. He came to Nir Oz in 1962 with the “Tzabar” group of the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement.
Osnat was born in 1952 in Kibbutz Revivim. She came to Nir Oz with her oldest daughter Reut in 1976.
Haim worked in the kibbutz garage as a metalworker. He also founded and ran the “White House” – a sculpture garden and gallery in the kibbutz fields.
Osnat held senior positions in the Nir Lat and Kafrit factories, and from 2020 to 2025 was chair of the kibbutz.
October 7th
On October 7, 2023, terrorists burst into the Peri home, destroying everything inside until they found the safe room. Haim fought off one of the terrorists with his bare hands. That terrorist fled but returned a few minutes later with reinforcements. While Osnat hid, Haim went out to face the terrorists. In doing so, he saved Osnat’s life but was himself taken hostage. Osnat hid in the safe room for many more long hours.
What Happened Since
Haim was abandoned in Hamas captivity. He survived five months in captivity, until he was killed in the tunnels of Khan Younis at age 79. In August 2024, a military operation retrieved his body. He was laid to rest in the Nir Oz cemetery.
Since surviving the October 7 massacre, Osnat has devoted all of her time to bringing the hostages back home, rebuilding Nir Oz, and helping the community heal.
