The survivors of Hamas's attack on this kibbutz have been scarred for life; many others are still being raped and tortured by their terrorist captors
KFAR AZA, Israel — Chen Kotler stands before a group of six visitors, twisting. Her hands turn nervously around her forearms, as if she’s unscrewing a bottle top.
Kotler stands in a shady area at the entrance to the kibbutz where she was born and lived until Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists ravaged her community. Sixty-two of the approximately 750 residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza were murdered. Four were taken hostage.
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A sprite of a woman, Kotler is anxious. I’m assuming that she is utterly transformed from the person she was on Oct. 6, when she was in Portugal enjoying a short holiday with her sister.
She awakened early on Oct. 7 to the incomprehensible news of a form of madness that no one quite understood. Hamas bombarded Israel with thousands of rockets and breached the border at approximately 30 points.
It is believed that up to 3,000 terrorists fanned out across southern Israel in an orgy of murder, torture, gang rape, arson, looting and hostage-taking. It took the Israel Defence Forces nearly three days to clear Kfar Aza of all the terrorists. In some areas, the battles carried on for longer.
Kotler’s home is next to the kibbutz armoury. Had she not been abroad, she would surely have been among the dead. The very first, in fact.
Hamas terrorists knew exactly where the weapons were stored and made that their first stop at every kibbutz they attacked. They were also well-informed as to where kibbutz security officers resided and targeted them next. Then they were able to make their way through the........