The Gates of Gaza is a story of the love that parents have for their son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters. It is also a story of unspeakable evil, as well as a story of unimaginable courage, strength and resilience. This, in other words, is a story of October 7, 2023 in Israel.

Amir Tibon was a resident of Nahal Oz, a kibbutz on the Gaza border. He is an award-winning journalist for Ha-aretz, a renowned Israeli newspaper. In his book, Amir gives an up-close and personal look at life in Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023.

Amir phoned his father, Noam, a retired army general, to inform him of his family’s situation when the terrorists – mehablim – invaded Nahal Oz. Noam told his son that “the most important thing he could do was to stay quiet” in his safe room – and that is exactly what Amir and his family did – with very little water, no food, no light, and little or no outside communication, with two very young little girls – for ten hours!

Amir goes on to give his readers images and background of Nahal Oz, and its meaning to all who lived there. He helps us understand the incredibly significant role the kibbutz played in everyone’s life. He further tells us the heroic story of his father’s and mother’s day on October 7, 2023. We move along with them from their home in Jerusalem on their journey to rescue Amir, his family, and so many others on the way.

Amir writes in a way that allows us to share the horror and fear of those involved. He also helps us experience the anger and courage demonstrated by residents of Nahal Oz and other Israelis who performed incredible acts of bravery and fortitude that day. We feel the joy of those whose lives were saved and those who saved them; and we share the deep and awful grief when lives were lost.

But Tibon gives us more than deep emotions; he gives us knowledge. We learn the facts surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as only an award-winning Israeli journalist can reveal them. And more, we learn the facts concerning the Rabin assassination and the Israeli and Palestinian views of the Oslo Accords; we learn of the events surrounding the removal of Israelis from their homes in Gaza.

Tibon puts us in whatever place he is writing about. It is almost as if we can dredge it all up from our own memories. He introduces us to real individuals who, throughout the years, have survived and died in battle after battle and sorrow after sorrow. But he also carries us through to a determination to seek and achieve peace. We sense the exhaustion, but also the joy of celebrating a wedding and finding those everyone thought to never see again.

We gain a greater understanding of the relationship between Netanyahu and the various groups in Israeli society and some understanding of what it is like to be unable to go home because your home no longer exists or because being there will put you in constant danger.

Even more significant, Tibon gives us a look at real Israelis, all of whom demonstrate strength and resilience. We can finish the book with a belief in the continued strength and resilience of the State of Israel and the Israeli people . . . . and a new understanding of both Kol Yisrael Zeh Bazeh and Am Yisrael Chai!