Kibbutz Nahal Oz is located in the northwest of the Negev. The kibbutz was established in 1951 as the first Nahal settlement called “Nachlaim in front of Gaza” on the lands of the old Beerot Yitzhak kibbutz. The kibbutz is located about 800 meters from the Green Line bordering with Gaza. Kibbutz Nahal Oz is currently evacuated.
On October 7, 2023, in the surprise attack on Israel that started the war, the kibbutz was occupied by Palestinian terrorists from the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad and citizens from Gaza, who walked around for many hours and murdered and abducted to Gaza territory many of its citizens, including both its founders and women and children (Nahal Oz Massacre). In addition, the terrorists damaged the houses of the residents, destroyed and looted them. During the massacre, the terrorists documented the atrocities and uploaded the documentation to social networks. The kibbutz was evacuated after the massacre and declared a closed military area.
#BringThemHomeNow
Tsachi Idan 
Omri Miran
Residents of Kibbutz Nahal Oz were evacuated to the the Shumaria Boarding School, the first educational institution of “Hashomer Hatzair”, located in Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek. It was decided by the Nahal Oz members that caravans would be placed in the kibbutz, and the families would move to them.
Prior to the outbreak of war, Kibbutz Nahal Oz was constantly growing and expanding with new families constantly being absorbed into the kibbutz. The kibbutz had a cultural center, a dairy farm, a chicken coop, field crops, a pre-military preparatory school, young students in Hashomer Hahadash’s “encampment and tower” program, a community of young students and one local bar called Gzunga. And all this in the shadow of the exploding balloons, kites and rockets from above, tunnels from below, and fear of intrusion from the west.
With all the difficulties, they even established a Visitor Center for Heritage, Security and Agriculture.
There were days, until the end of the 1980s, when it was possible to leave Nahal Oz, turn left and drive, or even walk two kilometers through the Sajaiya neighborhood to visit the city center of Gaza, buy at the market, eat at restaurants, fix cars, or just go for a stroll on the Gaza beach that was then known as one of the most beautiful and romantic beaches in the entire area.
Over the years, Kibbutz Nahal Oz became the symbol of the agricultural and security settlement, constantly continuing to build, dream and to seed inspiration and hope.
Photos: Kibbutz Nahal Oz
