Chairman of the state camp and cabinet member Benny Gantz on Wednesday visited Kfar Etzion with evacuees from Shlomit – a community that was not damaged during the massacre of Hamas terrorists on October 7, but saved the residents of neighboring Ferrigan. Among his remarks during the visit, Gantz said: "We will overcome the pain and win this war, and I hope that we will be able to rebuild the ruins of our lives in all parameters."
Benny Gantz: "This journey is going to be a very difficult journey - but we will overcome the pain and win"
During the visit, the widow of one of the residents who saved Ferrigan spoke: "The feeling at the moment is that there is a positive direction and it is gratifying," she said. " But there is also some hope that their death was not for nothing. Coming home when something isn't safe is very difficult. And if we are not 100% sure that the horror will not return, it will be very difficult to return."
Widow of one of Shlomit's residents who saved Frigan: "There is hope that their death was not for nothing"
Another Shlomit resident said: "The state has built a home front based on the understandings that we are creating defense, instead of establishing a home front based on defense and initiative and offensiveness. You have to know that there are enemies there and you have to eradicate it. We must change our thinking and understand that there is an enemy that must be destroyed. If we don't change phase, we won't be able to run the country like this."
Shlomit Gantz resident: "The state needs to build an editor based on initiative and offensiveness"
Another Shlomit resident says: "I'll go back to Shlomit and add another floor to the house. I believe that's the spirit of all residents."
He also criticized the army's conduct, saying: "It's important for me to say that the army doesn't trust the members of the alert squad. The army didn't bring us weapons. It's important to me that they trust us. We are all veterans of cruisers. A JNF fighter came and asked for weapons - she didn't understand the incident at all. There were terrorists inside the houses, but the army didn't understand what was happening. We are not criminals, we are veterans. We are all good people who love the country. Love the army and the flag more than anything. And in the end, you feel like you're not trusted."
Shulamit resident: "We will return to the community and build another floor for the house - I believe that this is everyone's spirit"
Minister Gantz spoke to the residents and said: "In the State of Israel, a disaster occurred that began with a military failure. You have to say that. It can't be blurred. And this disaster hurts the country and hurts the communities. It hurts to have the basic sense of security on which we sat. The ground shook beneath our feet and we have trouble stabilizing ourselves. The envelope held a lot of weight and the ground dropped under his feet.
"Hope we can rebuild the ruins"
"In the hours of this great disaster, national strength was revealed that could not be measured. From the individual level to the state level as seen everywhere. I'm sorry that these are the circumstances under which this is revealed."
Regarding entering a unity government, Gantz said: "It was clear to us that we were going to an emergency government, putting everything aside. There is no way I would have continued with politics as usual. It was unreasonable to me."
ZAKA volunteers at the kibbutzim in the envelope, photo: ZAKA Spokesperson's Office
"We are now engaged in a campaign in Gaza - destroying Hamas infrastructure and returning the abductees are our top priority. And we are at war for our existence. This journey is going to be a very difficult one. We also have gunfire from the north. We are at a big and long event. The order is correct. Inner strength is the first thing."
Concluding his remarks, Gantz said: "I want to commend you on the decision to live in Shlomit. For continuing the service since then and for everything you will do in the future. Anyone however he chooses. I'm not in a position to judge. Everyone will do what they have to do. I want to say that we will overcome the pain and win this war, and I hope that we will be able to rebuild the ruins of our lives in all parameters."
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