In April 2021, volunteer guards of a small kibbutz in central Israel encountered one of the most daring and meticulously planned Hamas attacks in recent memory. It was during the height of the recent fighting between Israel and Palestine, and the attack was designed to take advantage of the chaos on the Gaza-Israel border.
The Guards, volunteering to protect the kibbutz, were boosted in morale with the addition of a recently retired IDF officer. He discovered the Hamas planned attack on the kibbutz and, despite being outnumbered, he was able to avert the attack and stop the Hamas fighters from realizing their objective.
The attack started with the Hamas fighters marauding from Gaza. Past the border security, they moved quickly towards the target kibbutz, guided by coordinates they had managed to obtain from a local collaborator. The team of Hamas fighters moved in complete darkness and complete silence, using the cover of night to mask their movements. The minute they were spotted, it was immediately clear that they had prior knowledge of the layout of the kibbutz and of the location of the guards.
The IDF officer, also a volunteer, was able to intercept the Hamas fighters before they reached the kibbutz. Seeing that he was outnumbered, he quickly realized that he needed help and called the other guards to join the battle. The kibbutz residents, both young and old took up arms and battled side-by-side with the IDF officer. Eventually, the volunteers were able to push the Hamas team back. Stunned and unprepared for opposition, the team of Hamas fighters fled in defeat and the kibbutz was saved from tragedy.
This story not only highlights the courage and resolve of both the volunteers and the IDF officer, but also the importance of vigilance from the civilian population during times of conflict. Despite being out-numbered and out-equipped, the volunteer guards were able to fend off the attack with absolute commitment and bravery. Despite being near the border, the kibbutz was protected from the ravages of the conflict due to the courage of the brave volunteers.
