Ram Aharon Family From Kibbutz Nir Oz - October 7 | Kan 7.10.360

On Saturday morning, a birthday party was planned for Uri (9), the eldest son of Dalit (44) and Achi Ram-Aharon (41), with friends and relatives arriving from outside the kibbutz. Dalit wakes early, making herself a coffee before starting the preparations. Just as she sits down to drink, Red Alert sirens blare. She rushes to the safe room, calling her husband, while her younger sons, Lior (7) and Oren (4), are already asleep inside

The family huddles in the safe room, hearing the heavy rocket fire. Rumors of a terrorist infiltration spread through the neighborhood WhatsApp group. Achi merges out of the safe room to grab water, food, and Dalit’s phone, which is linked to multiple kibbutz groups. As they go through her WhatsApp messages, they realize it’s no rumor—terrorists are moving between houses, posing as IDF soldiers

Rachel (77) and Shmuel (86) Ram, Dalit’s parents, also live in the kibbutz. Both require full-time care and live with their caregivers, Savita and Mira. One of them calls Dalit, saying someone is banging on the safe room door and voices outside claiming to be IDF soldiers, ordering them to come out. Dalit urgently warns her not to open the door, explaining that these are terrorists, and instructs her to hold the door handle firmly. Throughout the day, the terrorists occupy Dalit's parent's home, using it as their makeshift headquarters. They attempt to force the safe room door open multiple times, but the caregivers hold the handle firmly, preventing them from raiding the safe room

The family hears voices inside the house and realizes that terrorists have breached it. They huddle in the safe room, shrouded in darkness and silence, listening to the sounds of destruction and shattering objects. Achi grips the door handle tightly, while Dalit embraces the children, messaging family and friends who desperately try to call for help through the police, fire brigade, and other state authorities. Four-year-old Oren suddenly screams. Dalit quickly covers her mouth with her hand, soothing her until she falls asleep on the bed. The terrorists remain in the house for about an hour.

After about an hour without hearing any sounds from the terrorists, Dalit and Achi's cell phones run out of battery. Staying connected is crucial—they need to communicate with Dalit’s parents and stay updated on the unfolding situation in the kibbutz. They consider leaving the safe room but are unsure if the terrorists have truly left the house or if the house has been booby-trapped. After hesitating, Achi eventually steps out of the safe room and sprints to the bedroom to grab the phone charger

The family remains in the safe room throughout the entire day. Nine-year-old Uri understands what is happening and keeps repeating, "I don’t want to die on my birthday." At around 18:00, IDF soldiers arrive at the family’s home. They say the code word that had been shared with kibbutz members, and the family opens the safe room door. The soldiers lead them through the kibbutz pathways to the command center, where they reunite with other rescued residents.

The family is evacuated along with other kibbutz residents to a reinforced kindergarten building, where they spend the night with around a hundred individuals. There, they reunite with Dalit’s parents, who have also been rescued. Later, due to their medical condition, Dalit's parents are transported to Soroka Hospital.

The family stays in the kindergarten building throughout the following Sunday. During the day, IDF forces escort kibbutz residents to their homes to collect belongings in preparation for a larger evacuation. Around 16:00, Achi returns home under IDF escort, gathering clothes and essentials for the family. Upon his return, the family, along with other residents of the Nir Oz community, boards the evacuation bus to Eilat