On Danny Rahamim's forearm, a new tattoo provides a solemn reminder of what his community lost three years ago, and what he believed it needed to protect its future.
asserted
it → provide → future
He picked a sunflower because it always turns towards the light, along with the phrase "the way to hope".
asserted
it → pick → hope
"I divide [the people of Israel as those] who lost their hope, [and] people who keep the hope," Mr Rahamim told the ABC.
asserted
Rahamim → divide → ABC
"I'm on the side that keeps the hope.
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that → keep → hope
Because if you lost your hope, nothing will change.
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nothing → lose → hope
On the sunflower's stem is the date that changed his family and country forever — October 7, 2023.
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that → change → family
Three years on from the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 being taken hostage, Mr Rahamim insists hope was often in short supply.
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hope → lead → supply
"One day [there will be] peace, I have no doubt," he said.
asserted
he → have → doubt
"Maybe it won't happen in my lifetime, but as I told you, I have the responsibility to give the hope for my children and my grandchildren.
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I → happen → children
And as his country prepared for an election on October 27, Mr Rahamim argued a change of government was the only way to ensure that.
asserted
change → prepare → that
"This government is the most terrible and bad government that we ever had," he said.
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he → have → that
"[If they] take the power in the next election, I think that Israel is in a very, very bad situation."
Will life ever return to normal?
Mr Rahamim has lived in Nahal Oz since 1975, a kibbutz roughly 800 metres away from the Gaza fence line.
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Rahamim → take → line
Mr Rahamim said three waves of Hamas terrorists alongside several other armed groups poured over the Gaza fence line on October 7 and attacked Nahal Oz, as they did other communities along what is known as the Gaza Envelope.
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what → say → Envelope
Fifteen people were killed in the kibbutz, eight were taken hostage.
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eight → kill → kibbutz
Mr Rahamim and his family survived.
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Rahamim → survive → ?
"I don't know how we survived.
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we → know → ?
Just 30 metres behind our house … they went inside [a] house, shot the door of the safe room, the bullets came through the door and killed [a woman]," he said.
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he → go → woman
Around 85 per cent of the roughly 450 people who lived in Nahal Oz before the Hamas attacks have returned.
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who → live → attacks
Sitting under a tree in the centre of the kibbutz, an Israeli surveillance drone buzzes overhead — keeping a close eye on the situation just over the border.
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drone → sit → border
The proximity of the Israeli military holding territory inside Gaza helps Mr Rahamim's family feel safe being back in Nahal Oz.
He wants the army to stay there, to make sure Hamas does not return.
"
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Hamas → hold → Oz
I still believe that we have to make peace with the Palestinians, but not with the Hamas.
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we → believe → Hamas
Mr Rahamim is a self-professed peace activist, and no fan of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Rahamim → profess → Netanyahu
Reports suggesting Mr Netanyahu was warned of a looming attack by Hamas and that he failed to pass on the intelligence has been a bitter pill to swallow.
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he → suggest → intelligence
You hear it from 90 per cent of the population here," Mr Rahamim said.
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Rahamim → hear → population
"But unfortunately, if you go to Sderot, they will tell you that [Mr Netanyahu] saved Israel."
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Netanyahu → go → Israel
Mr Netanyahu has roundly rejected the reports, and launched legal action against the media outlets which published the accusations
Looking over to Gaza
In nearby Sderot, which was also overrun by Hamas on October 7, a lookout on the city's edge provides a view over the fence line and into northern Gaza.
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lookout → reject → Gaza
Much of the territory has been razed to the ground, as Israel targets what it says have been Hamas fighters and facilities.
More than 74,000 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.
uncertain
many → raze → Health
Caryn Oberman was among those at the lookout, which was built after October 7 and has attracted tourists, school groups and residents who can watch Israel's war in Gaza from the perimeter.
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who → build → perimeter
Her daughter was living in Sderot when Hamas attacked and her son was serving in the army.
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son → live → army
One of his friends and fellow soldier, Daniel Peretz, was taken hostage and killed.
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One → take → friends
She said the destruction in Gaza was "not enough" given the horrors inflicted by Hamas on October 7 and the treatment of Israeli hostages.
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destruction → say → hostages
Ms Oberman claimed the international community was "distorting" Israel's conduct in Gaza.
"
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community → claim → Gaza
They've taken something that has happened to us, misconstrued it and turned it against us," she said.
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she → take → us
Ms Oberman added there has been an increase in antisemitism and an "unwillingness to see that there is no genocide".
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Oberman → add → antisemitism
A United Nations independent commission has twice found there is sufficient evidence to say Israel was committing a genocide in Gaza.
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Israel → find → Gaza
While other organisations have levelled similar charges, the Netanyahu government has rejected the findings as politically motivated inquiries serving to prop up Hamas.
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government → level → Hamas
Israeli voters weigh in on Netanyahu leadership
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voters → weigh → leadership
It is hard to separate the timing of the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks from Israel's national election.
asserted
It → separate → election
This election will effectively be a referendum on the prime minister, his leadership and insistence he is the only man to keep Israel safe.
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he → keep → Israel
Ms Oberman is suspicious of the timing of the reports Mr Netanyahu was forewarned of the attacks.
asserted
Netanyahu → forewarn → attacks
…and 17 more, not listed.
The Aporia