"We Salute Them": KKL - JNF Inaugurated The 'Path Of Heroines' At The Ofakim Park With The Participation Of 20 Leading Women Who Saved Lives During The Black Saturday Attack (Photos)

By BJLife Israel Newsroom
Posted on 01/07/24

KKL - JNF launched today (Sunday) the 'Path of Heroines' at the entrance of Ofakim Park, designed to commemorate the courage of Israeli women who acted with bravery and successfully saved lives during the ruthless attack on October 7.

KKL – JNF Chairwoman, Yafit Ovadia Luski: "Those who observed carefully saw that on the seventh of October there were many women, including those who showed up to fight without orders. Today, we come to honor those heroine women. The women who fought to hold the door of the command center, the brave paramedics, the fighters and the policewomen, the doctors and the medics who saved hundreds of lives. Those who did not surrender to fear, did not stop to rest, showed determination, and acted without hesitation. Each with her unique strength. Zionist heroines, here next to us. Flesh and blood. We salute the heroines in a special way. We did not place a statue or a silent stone here. We paved a path. Because the heroism of the seventh of October is part of a long journey that begins long before us – and will continue long after us."

The special event, hosted by Linor Abergil, honored the courage of 20 women who participated.

Norit Cohen, ZAKA volunteer: "Myself and my friends at ZAKA were all in the front lines and dealt with body collection. Every bloodstain, every hole in the floor told us a story of gunfire, grenade explosions. We worked for days to collect all the bodies and findings. I see a connection between femininity, birth, resilience, planting – to be strong and not give up, we are here to stay."

Brigadier General Moran Tadger: "Israeli police officers stood on the Black Saturday as a wall. 59 officers are no longer with us. I knew it was the moment to give my all. Grenade after grenade, RPG gunfire still echoing in my ears. But we knew one thing: our souls may be wounded, but they won't leave from here. Guarding the city of Ofakim. Hoping we will know days of peace and security in our land."

Tali Haddad: "My son Itamar went out and fought because he knew that it was the goal to protect his home and his land, Israel. He took his weapon and went out to the sounds of gunfire. He went out with the weapon, and I followed him. He's my son after all. We heard a big battle and saw a procession of terrorists marching. I saw wounded and dead, and I decided to run, bring the car from home, and evacuate the wounded. The first casualty was my Itamar. I took him and told him: Mom is not coming with you to the hospital, I'm going back to pick up more wounded, and you will be a hero. That's how I collected 12 more casualties. Itamar took four bullets, but he came out of the stretcher. Am Yisrael Chai (The people of Israel live)."