JERUSALEM: Life in the tranquil vicinity of Israel's Kibbutz Nirim, near the border with the Gaza Strip, had always been idyllic for Adele Raeder and her fellow residents. With 95 percent of their days described as "heavenly," they embraced the peacefulness of their surroundings. However, the other 5 percent brought a harrowing reality that transformed their lives into a living nightmare.

When the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched a surprise assault on Israel last Saturday, Adele Raeder and the tight-knit community of Nirim found themselves racing to the nearest shelters as sirens blared. Little did they know, this was just the beginning of a tragic day that left casualties in its wake, with some members believed to have been abducted by Hamas.

Since taking control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas had periodically unleashed rockets and other attacks on Israel, provoking responses that ranged from airstrikes to ground incursions. For Raeder and her community, this relentless threat has become a part of their lives, one they have adapted to but can never fully accept.

Currently residing in the southern Israeli city of Eilat, Raeder and the remaining members of her kibbutz have been evacuated to escape the ongoing crossfire. She describes the horrific conditions they left behind – live fire, charred bodies, burning vehicles, and tanks amidst the chaos.

Tali Medina, a mother of four hailing from the Kibbutz of Urim, which is situated 20 kilometers from the Gaza border, made a courageous decision to stay behind on her dairy farm, even after her family had been evacuated. Her husband's harrowing escape resulted in the loss of two fingers, a consequence of a gunfight he was caught in while attempting to reach safety on that fateful Saturday morning.

Refusing to shutter her farm, Tali managed to procure flak jackets and helmets for her fellow farmers, as they bravely continued their work despite the relentless barrage from Gaza. They were all still reeling from the horrifying images of hundreds of Hamas militants descending upon their communities armed with guns, grenades, and other deadly weapons.

"We've grown accustomed to rocket fire, learning how to protect ourselves," Tali said, her voice tinged with both resilience and fear. "But the sound of gunfire is paralyzing; it's a fear we cannot reconcile with. You hear it, and you know that somewhere out there, someone intends to take your life, but you cannot see them," she emphasized, highlighting the relentless and palpable terror that now lingers within their once peaceful communities.

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