Memorial Held for Victims of October 7th Massacre at Kibbutz Kfar Aza

A moving memorial ceremony was held on the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the site of intense fighting on October 7, 2023, where many members of the local emergency squad fell. Aviv Baram, a member of the emergency squad, was shot near a tree where a flag now flies. He managed to call his wife, inform her he was wounded, and express his love before he died. Beside him, Avi Hindi, also a member of the emergency squad, was killed. He had asked Aviv to relay his love to his own wife.

Daniel Amit and his partner Emily Damari attended the ceremony to remember Emily's close friends, the Peled family. Looking at the sky, Damari remarked on the beautiful sunset, questioning "how cruel can this world be." The three members of the Peled family Daniel (Dandi) Peled, aged 28, his mother Gila, and his father, retired Deputy Commissioner Yizhar Peled, were murdered together in their home's safe room on October 7, 2023.

Dandi Peled, who grew up in Kfar Aza, was described as a charismatic, friendly, and beloved young man, known for his joyfulness, humor, and optimism. He served as a combat paramedic in the Border Police, continued to save lives with Magen David Adom, and in 2022 became a respected fitness coach in Be'er Sheva, while aspiring to study medicine. He was a devoted fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv and a lover of Disney and Harry Potter, living by the childhood motto "Hakuna Matata," to take life with a smile and without worries.

The three were initially buried at Kibbutz Gat Cemetery and were transferred in October 2025 to their final resting place in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, with Dandi buried between his parents. He is survived by his siblings Yehonatan (Yoni), Reut, and Rotem. In his memory, "Dandi's Gummy" initiative was established, celebrating his love for gummy candies through photos, tattoos of gummy bears, special t-shirts, and tributes from the Maccabi Tel Aviv club.