ISRAEL, Oct 7, 2025 (Reuters): Two years after surviving the trauma of a Hamas attack and nearly two months in captivity, a young Israeli-American girl is beginning first grade — with a new backpack, new school, and a family determined to help her reclaim her childhood.
Avigail, now six years old, was just three when Hamas militants stormed Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023. During the assault, both her parents were killed — her mother inside a safe room, her father while trying to flee with Avigail in his arms. She was then taken across the border into Gaza, one of dozens of hostages abducted that day.
Her ordeal ended 51 days later during a brief ceasefire when she was released along with other hostages. Since then, she has been in the care of her aunt and uncle, Leron and Zoli Mor, who were also living on the same kibbutz at the time of the attack.
Now, as the war enters its third year, Avigail is returning to the rhythms of childhood. She recently started first grade, proudly carrying a pink backpack, an event her family says marked both joy and heartache.
“She should be going to school with her mom and dad,” said her aunt Leron. “But we’re doing everything we can to give her what every child deserves — a safe, loving, and normal life.”
The family is fiercely protective of Avigail’s privacy, choosing not to reveal where they now live and refraining from posting her photo online. “Let her be a kid,” said Zoli. “She’s been through more than anyone should.”
Despite the trauma, Avigail is showing signs of resilience. Family members say she speaks with emotional clarity, sometimes setting boundaries when conversations go too deep. “Stop, I don’t want to talk about it,” she says when the past resurfaces.
She lives with her two older siblings, who also survived the attack. Together, they are rebuilding their lives in a new home — one far from the site of their loss, but grounded in care and stability.
According to Israeli authorities, 48 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza as of October 2025. Around 20 are thought to be alive.
The story of Avigail — once the youngest American held hostage — has become a symbol of both unimaginable tragedy and quiet resilience. Her family says their focus now is simple: helping her grow up in peace.