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An Israeli mother who evaded capture with her two young children recalled being led by Hamas to Gaza to the sound of blazing gunshots and seeing everything “destroyed and covered in blood” before she could escape.

Terrorists broke into Avital Aldjem’s home and dragged her out of the closet where she was hiding before forcing her and her two children — Negev, 4, and baby Eshel, just 4 months — to begin walking with them toward Gaza.

“They took us from house to house, the whole time there were gunshots along the way,” Aldjem told i24news reporter Natasha Raquel Kirtchuk Gutman in Hebrew.

“Puddles of blood everywhere.”

“They were burning the homes. Cars were on fire. Then they took me and my kids outside and took us to the fence that surrounds the kibbutz. There was a breach in the fence, and they began to walk us toward Gaza,” she said.

Through tears, the mother recalled the terrorists constantly telling them, “Quick, quick,” and gunshots continued to go off for the entire walk.


  The mother recalled seeing everything destroyed and covered in blood. Instagram / @natasharaquel The mother recalled seeing everything destroyed and covered in blood. Instagram / @natasharaquel

  Aldjem and her children were taken from their home and forced to walk to Gaza. Instagram / @natasharaquel Aldjem and her children were taken from their home and forced to walk to Gaza. Instagram / @natasharaquel

Her son, Negev, being carried on the shoulders of one of the terrorists, screamed that he wanted to be let down for the entire trek.

Fortunately for Aldjem and her children, when they arrived in Gaza, their captors simply put the children down, shook their heads, and continued walking without them.

“They continued to Gaza and left me and the kids,” she said. “At that moment, I realized we were free to go home.”

Aldjem began walking home alone with her two children.

Her older child, Negev, who had an injury from shrapnel, was carried on Aldjem’s back and also walked himself.

“He was brave,” the mother noted. “I told him we need to get away from the bad men and go back home to the good people.”

Israel-Hamas war: How we got here

2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip more than three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.

2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.

2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.

2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.

2023: Hamas launches the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years, in an early-morning ambush Oct. 7, firing thousands of rockets and sending dozens of militants into Israeli towns.

Terrorists killed more than 1,200 Israelis, wounded more than 4,200, and took at least 200 hostage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to announce, “We are at war,” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”

The Gaza Health Ministry — which is controlled by Hamas — reported at least 3,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 12,500 injured since the war began.

Explosions sounded on the entire walk home, and by the time they reached the border, there was another group of terrorists waiting, Aldjem said.


  Aldjem and her children heard explosions and gunfire the entire walk home. AFP via Getty Images Aldjem and her children heard explosions and gunfire the entire walk home. AFP via Getty Images

  The mother of two realized they were free to go home when the Hamas militants put her children down. Instagram / @natasharaquel The mother of two realized they were free to go home when the Hamas militants put her children down. Instagram / @natasharaquel

“When we get to the border, I see another group of terrorists. I took the children and we hid behind a dune. They didn’t hurt us and we continued,” she said.

Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip launched the worst attack on Israel in 50 years on Saturday.

An estimated 800 Israelis have been killed, more than 2,000 are wounded, and 100 are confirmed to have been taken captive by Hamas since the war began.


  Gaza health officials report at least 300 Palestinians have been killed with 2,200 injured. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Gaza health officials report at least 300 Palestinians have been killed with 2,200 injured. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Gaza health officials report at least 300 Palestinians have been killed with 2,200 injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis that the war would be “long and difficult” but vowed to take “mighty vengeance” against Hamas.

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