On August 26th, the summer 2014 conflict was about to end. After rejecting ceasefire after ceasefire, the Hamas terrorist organization that rules Gaza finally agreed to end the bloodshed. 

One hour before the ceasefire took effect, terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched a horrific mortar barrage on Kibbutz Nirim, a quiet Israeli farming community near the border. 

The “Code Red” alarm went out over the loudspeakers, signaling that only a few seconds remained until mortars or rockets would land. Two members of a team that was working to restore electricity to the community after it had been cut off by a rocket earlier in the day managed to reach a nearby safe room shelter. Other team members did not make it to safety in time. 

Ze’ev (Zevik) Etzion, a father of five and head of security for the kibbutz, was killed instantly. His deputy and father of three, Shahar Melamed, was mortally wounded and died a few hours later. Five other members of the team were wounded, some very seriously.

Two women from the kibbutz remember that attack and their friends who were injured or lost their lives that day.