Parents killed, children hidden in closet: Tale of heroism in face of massacre

MDA medic Linoy Al-Ezra tells how Michael and his sister survived the massacre in Kfar Aza.

  (photo credit: Tzur Sheizaf)
(photo credit: Tzur Sheizaf)

In the midst of horror, stories of heroism emerge. Linoy Al-Ezra, a resident of Hatzor HaGlilit and a senior Magen David Adom medic, started her shift on the fateful morning of the deadly Hamas terrorist attack in the south of the country.

In a heart-wrenching conversation, she spoke with nine-year-old Michael, a resident of a Kfar Aza, who informed her that his parents had been shot and were unresponsive.

 A view shows the living room of a burnt house, following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel, October 15, 2023.  (credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS)
A view shows the living room of a burnt house, following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS)

Michael was only nine years old, his sister age 6

"In an attempt to assess if there was any hope of saving them, I asked him where they had been shot. From his description, it became evident that there was no chance of saving them," she recalls, sharing in the pain. "Michael remained composed and performed admirably, telling me that he was with his six-year-old sister named Alma."

Al-Ezra went on to describe how she guided them to safety, saying, "I advised them to go to the shelter and lock the door securely. He initially hesitated but then complied. I inquired if there was a closet inside the shelter, and he confirmed its presence. I instructed them to enter the closet, remain quiet, and not come out until the brave soldiers arrived to rescue them."

In a recent meeting with their aunt and grandmother, Al-Ezra shared their story of bravery.

For many hours, these two young souls remained hidden in a closet, maintaining their silence, ultimately ensuring their survival.

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