Hanna Peri

Freed November 24, 2023

Hanna Peri, a 79-year-old resident of Kibbutz Nirim, was kidnapped when Hamas terrorists infiltrated her home on October 7. Originally from South Africa, Hanna has been a part of the kibbutz community since the '60s, where she worked at the grocery store and enjoyed activities like tai chi, gardening, and caring for her cat.

The attack on Kibbutz Nirim brought personal tragedy to Hanna's doorstep. On that fateful day, one of her children was abducted by the terrorists, and another was tragically murdered. The full extent of the horror unfolded gradually for her daughter, Ayelet Svatitzky, who resides two hours north of Gaza. The distressing news reached Ayelet through a phone call to her husband, who urged her to contact her mother immediately.

As the situation at Kibbutz Nirim became clearer, Ayelet learned about the dire circumstances her family faced. The family's attempt to seek refuge in their safe room was thwarted by its inability to lock from the inside. Ayelet's phone call to warn her brother Nadav was cut short by the terrifying intrusion of the same Palestinian voices she had heard while on the phone with her mother, leading to a sudden disconnection.

The grim reality of her family's plight was confirmed through a photo sent from her mother's phone, showing Hanna and Nadav in a state of distress, under the control of Hamas. The message accompanying the photo starkly announced their capture with the single word 'Hamas'.