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Israel Prize for Heroism Goes to Civilians Who Saved Dozens on Oct. 7
The bloodied aftermath of a kindergarten in Kibbutz Be’eri attacked by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. Photo: Reuters/Amir Cohen
Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced on Tuesday that Menachem Kalmanson and Itiel Zohar — civilians from the West Bank settlement of Otniel who saved over 100 people in Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel on Oct. 7 — will be awarded the 2024 Israel Prize for Civilian Heroism.
“Happy to update about the winners of the Israel Prize for revival and civic heroism — ‘Team Elhanan,’” tweeted Kisch.
“Menachem, his brother Elhanan, and their nephew Itiel Zohar left their home in Otniel, on Simchat Torah, to save the lives of the residents of the settlements in the Gaza Envelope,” Kisch continued. “Despite being told that they were not needed, they arrived at Kibbutz Be’eri and repeatedly entered the attacked kibbutz for long hours, saving dozens of the residents of the kibbutz. In the last house they entered, a terrorist ambushed and shot and killed Elhanan.”
As Kisch mentioned, the trio came to be known as “Team Elhanan” in Israeli media as their heroic story was told following the massacre of Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists stormed southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 253 as hostages.
Kibbutz Be’eri was one of the hardest hit Israeli communities during the atrocities of Oct. 7. It was almost completely burnt down by Hamas terrorists, who killed about 130 people there — a staggering 10 percent of the kibbutz’s residents. Several others were taken as hostages.
On that fateful day, the Shabbat-observant brothers and their nephew decided to check their phones as the sirens kept ringing, making the quick decision to head south towards the Israeli communities near the Gaza border, fighting terrorists and saving civilians.
Menachem spoke to Israel’s Channel 12 about the honor of receiving the Israel Prize.
“It’s complicated,” he said. “We paid a heavy price for it. I am happy that the State of Israel recognizes what Elhanan gave and contributed. That is where I am at the moment.”
Recounting the events of the day, he said about the loss of his 43-year-old brother: “We have a lot of pain, but there is no regret.”
The Israel Prize has become a controversial issue in recent weeks. Kisch announced last month that the prestigious award would be scaled down drastically in 2024, not announcing winners in fields such as entrepreneurship, Torah, and sciences, but instead only giving two awards to people related to the Oct. 7 attack.
The decision caused backlash, with critics saying Kisch did it for political reasons. A lawsuit on the matter reached the High Court of Justice. The court has given Kisch until Thursday to respond to the petition for why the award should be scaled down this year and not also given to the traditional fields as well.
A ceremony to honor “Team Elhanan” will take place on Israel’s Independence Day, scheduled this year for May 14.
The post Israel Prize for Heroism Goes to Civilians Who Saved Dozens on Oct. 7 first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.