Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner visit decimated Kibbutz in Israel's South

The couple arrived in the Jewish State earlier that morning in a move to express solidarity with the country as it wages a war against Gaza-based Hamas.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump visit Kfar Aza, December 21, 2023. (Credit: Natan Weil | Knesset Spokesperson)

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the daughter and former senior advisor to former US president Donald Trump, arrived in Israel, the Knesset spokesperson announced on Thursday.

The couple arrived in the Jewish State earlier that morning in a move to express solidarity with the country as it wages a war against the Gaza-based Islamist terror organization, Hamas.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana accompanied the pair on the first stop of their 24-hour visit to Israel.

In Kfar Aza, mere kilometers from the Hamas hotbed of Shejaia, Trump and Kushner heard testimonies from local residents who lived in the community up until the Hamas attack.

The former residents spoke about their experiences on October 7, as well as of their neighbors and friends who were kidnapped and butchered by Hamas.

One of the residents who spoke with the couple, Shachar Schnorman, who had the date “07.10.23” tattooed on his hand, stated that he and his wife, Ayelet Cohen, were the first, and so far only, residents to return to the community.

 Jared Kushner stands in the wreckage of Kfar Aza. December 21, 2023. (credit: NOAM MOSHKOWITZ/KNESSET SPOKESPERSON)
Jared Kushner stands in the wreckage of Kfar Aza. December 21, 2023. (credit: NOAM MOSHKOWITZ/KNESSET SPOKESPERSON)

One of the former residents, Chen Kotler, reportedly gave Trump a dog tag bearing the inscription, “Kfar Azza is my home." 

Kibbutz decimated by Hamas attack

“In this kibbutz, there were 64 people murdered, nineteen were kidnapped, numerous wounded. But the most important thing is that five are still hostages in captivity in Gaza. This says, ‘Kfar Aza is my home,’” Kotler said as she slipped the dog tag into Trump’s ballistic vest. “Hopefully, one day, I can host you in my home.”

Another former resident, Maor Morvia, told the pair, “We must defeat Hamas so that our children can come back here to play in the fields. It must not happen again."

Trump and Kushner also heard from Border Police and IDF soldiers who were among those to help save lives and eliminate the infiltrating Hamas terrorists during their cross-border massacre. They also heard from ZAKA volunteers.

“Thank you for sharing your stories with us. I just have to say it’s very humbling for me to be with you, with the heroic acts that you did,” Kushner said. “What you did had made a massive difference.”