image sourced from original article at Residents of Kibbutz Nahal Oz in southern Israel remain deeply conflicted about returning home nearly two years after the deadly attack by Palestinian gunmen on October 7, 2023. While some, like Avishay Edri, feel a strong emotional need for closure, fears of renewed conflict and memories of trauma linger, making the decision to return difficult.
The government has lifted the state of emergency and stopped paying for alternative housing, encouraging residents to move back. However, about half of the community's 400 residents have yet to return, faced with damaged homes and ongoing uncertainty about safety. The kibbutz, once a symbol of peaceful coexistence, now grapples with shattered trust and a dramatic decline in hope for peace among Israelis.
Longtime residents recall a time when relations with Gaza were more peaceful, but the recent violence has left many feeling hardened and pessimistic about the future. The scars of the attack and the war that followed continue to shape daily life and the outlook of those who once advocated for reconciliation.
