The Gates of Gaza

A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel's Borderlands

De: Amir Tibon

Narrado por: Amir Tibon

The gripping true story of how leading Israeli journalist Amir Tibon, along with his wife and their two young children, were rescued from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023 by Tibon’s own father—an incredible tale of survival that also reveals the deep tensions and systemic failures that led to Hamas’s attacks that day.

On the morning of October 7, Amir Tibon and his wife were awakened by mortar rounds exploding near their home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a progressive Israeli community less than a mile from Gaza City. Soon, they were holding their two young daughters in the family’s reinforced safe room, urging them not to cry as gunfire echoed just outside the door. With his cell phone battery running low, Amir texted his father: “The girls are behaving really well, but I’m worried they’ll lose patience soon and Hamas will hear us.”

Some 45 miles north, Amir’s parents had just cut short an early morning swim along the shores of Tel Aviv. Now, they jumped in their Jeep and sped toward Nahal Oz, armed only with a pistol but intent on saving their family at all costs.

In The Gates of Gaza, Amir Tibon tells this harrowing story in full for the first time. He describes his family's ordeal—and the bravery that ultimately led to their rescue—alongside the histories of the place they call home and the systems of power that have kept them and their neighbors in Gaza in harm’s way for decades.

Woven throughout is Tibon's own expertise as a longtime international correspondent, as well as more than thirty original interviews: with residents of his kibbutz, with the Israeli soldiers who helped to wrest it from the hands of Hamas, and with experts on Gaza, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the failed peace process. More than one family's odyssey, The Gates of Gaza is the intimate story of a tight-knit community and the broader saga of war, occupation, and hostility between two national movements—a conflict that has not yet extinguished the enduring hope for peace.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A riveting minute by minute account of one of Israel’s darkest days, Amir Tibon’s telling of his family’s horrific ordeal — hiding for hours while terrorists overtook his kibbutz — is captivating. His father’s heroic mission to rescue them, woven together with the storied and bloodied history of the kibbutz, makes for a remarkable read.”—Bianna Golodryga, Anchor and Senior Global Affairs Analyst, CNN

“Amir Tibon has captured the horror and hope of October 7 in this compelling story of Hamas’ murderous rampage across southern Israel, of his family’s agonizing experience in their safe room while terrorists roamed outside, and of the heroism of his father, Noam, who came to their rescue. The Gates of Gaza would be an engrossing read if it were fiction; the fact that it is a true story is simply extraordinary.”—Daniel Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt

Fascinating and enlightening

It was so enlightening to hear the first-hand account of the experiences at Nahal Oz and all that was and was not happening on the ground. The history of Nahal Oz and of Hamas’s enrichment by Qatar were fascinating. The role of Israel’s leaders, especially Bibi was unknown to me. I learned a tremendous amount and was fully engaged throughout the book. The author’s narration was excellent.

A crucial heartfelt and balanced personal and community history

This engaging labor of mind and heart deserves to be read by every person who cares about the Israeli Palestinian conflict and all those who have been affected by it.

An incredibly powerful telling of a horrible day at the hands of Hamas terrorists.

Very difficult to listen to but essential to understand what happened on October 7th. Thank you Amir Tibon and Saba.

I could not stop listening

The terrifying events of Nahal Oz and the Timon family on October 7 propels the story. Sandwiched between the terrifying story Tibon provides the context. A journalist (at Haaretz), Tibon carefully consults professional historians. The result is an excellent history of Israel’s road to October 7.

Profound, well-written and powerful

This book does an incredible job weaving history and October 7th, explaining events that led up to the tragedy. The author’s story that day, including his family’s story, are remarkable and brave, and the way it is told is so compelling and well-written. While parts of the book are difficult to hear, documenting the events was so important. The author grappled with whether or not to write this book, and I’m forever grateful that he chose to do so.