Ronit Benjamin, an Israeli-Israeli survivor of the Hamas massacre, returned to the scene of the violence recently to pay her respects. On a balmy July evening in 2008, Benjamin was attending a summer festival at an outdoor amphitheater in the Red Sea resort town of Eilat, when a group of Hamas militants infiltrated the Israeli border and proceeded to carry out a horrific attack that claimed the lives of eight people, and wounded dozens more. The incident remains one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Israel’s history.
In the months following the attack, Benjamin made a solemn vow: to return to the site of the massacre, to honor the memories of the victims and to share her story with the world. Nine years later, she did just that.
Accompanied by family, friends, and members of the media, Benjamin made her way back to the amphitheater where the killings took place. She stared in silence at the now empty stage – a place where so much joy and promise once stood – and managed to contain her emotions until the end, when she finally broke down and expressed her sorrow for those affected by the tragedy.
“It’s a very heavy experience, coming back here,” she said moments before reaching the memorial set up in the spot where the attack took place. “But I think it’s important to remember that even though we’ve gone through so much pain and loss, it’s still important to keep our spirits up and remember to go on, and find a way to live again.”
Benjamin’s courageous display of peace comes at a time when tensions in the region remain high. As she stood atop the stage looking out into the amphitheater – which was decorated with candles, photographs of the victims, and a single red rose for each life taken that night – there was a powerful sense of hope in the air. Though Benjamin and her loved ones were still mourning the loss of those who were taken too soon, the ultimate message of her journey was one of hope and resilience in the face of tragedy.
Her story is an inspiring reminder of the strength of the human spirit, and serves as a symbol of peace, courage, and the true power of love and unity in a time of pain and turmoil.