Kai Laban: Youngest Israeli Hamas Attack Survivor
- What began as a holiday visit with her daughter's family at Kibbutz Nirim quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal as Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel.
- Mintz had traveled from Elat to Kibbutz Nirim to celebrate the Sukkot holiday with her family.
- "I was ready to die," Mintz said, describing the intensity of the attack.
Youngest Survivor: Toddler’s Escape from Hamas Attack Inspires Grandmother
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NIRIM,Israel – Devora Mintz remembers the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, vividly. What began as a holiday visit with her daughter’s family at Kibbutz Nirim quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal as Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel. Now, more than a year later, she recounts the harrowing experience and the resilience of her grandson, Kai Laban, who at 1 year and 7 months old, became the youngest survivor of the attack.
Trapped and Under Fire
Mintz had traveled from Elat to Kibbutz Nirim to celebrate the Sukkot holiday with her family. The final day of the holiday brought an unexpected and brutal awakening. “The morning alarm rang,” Mintz said, recalling the start of the attack. Soon, they were trapped in a safety room, engulfed in thick, black smoke.
“I was ready to die,” Mintz said, describing the intensity of the attack. “They burned the house, shot the front door, broke it, and shot at the window.” A bullet hole served as a stark reminder of their peril. Mintz even sent a farewell message, all while holding young Kai. Miraculously, the entire family survived.
A Symbol of Hope
Mintz sees Kai as more than just a survivor. “There’s something special from Kai,” she said.”If you look at him, he’s not just as he is the youngest survivor, but because of Kai, he realizes that the soldiers came and saved us.” She believes that the family’s survival, and perhaps the survival of others in the kibbutz, hinged on rapid decisions made in the face of unimaginable danger.
Kai, now attending kindergarten and learning Hebrew, is described by his grandmother as a bright and multilingual child. “he understands three languages: Hebrew, English, and Spanish,” Mintz said. She and her daughter, Amum, speak to him in English, while Kai’s father, urm, who moved to Argentina at age 10, speaks to him in Spanish.
Lingering Trauma
Despite their survival, the family continues to grapple with the aftermath of the attack. They are living in temporary housing, displaced from their home like thousands of others. Mintz had hoped to retire and return to the kibbutz with her family, but the future remains uncertain.
“This is a matter of day,” she explained, describing the ongoing trauma. “The everyday sounds like a motorcycle causes the most extreme fear. That’s what we live every day.”
Mintz also spoke of survivor’s guilt, the inexplicable burden of having lived when others perished. “Is I here to tell my story?” she questioned, acknowledging that many others endured even more horrific experiences.
Gratitude Amidst Loss
Despite the trauma and uncertainty, Mintz expresses profound gratitude. She is thankful for being with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson during the attack.She is also grateful for the support from those standing with the Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism.
“Thank you forever by the people who are standing with the Jewish population after seeing what happened in the world,” Mintz said. “I am very grateful for the anti -Semitism that spreads from all over the world, but I am grateful to everyone standing by us. There is no evil, but it exists.”
While the family’s future remains unclear, Kai’s survival serves as a powerful symbol of hope and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Youngest Survivor: A Grandmother’s Story of Hope and Resilience
Q: Who is devora Mintz, and what is her connection to the events of October 7th, 2023?
A: Devora Mintz is a grandmother who was visiting her daughter’s family at Kibbutz Nirim in Israel during the Hamas surprise attack on October 7th, 2023. The visit,intended for the Sukkot holiday,quickly turned into a harrowing experience.
Q: what happened to Devora Mintz and her family during the attack?
A: Mintz and her family where caught in the attack at Kibbutz Nirim. They were forced to take shelter in a safety room while their house was targeted. they endured intense danger, including the house being burned, and shot at. Despite the extreme peril, the entire family survived.
Q: Who is Kai Laban, and why is he significant?
A: Kai Laban is devora Mintz’s grandson. He was 1 year and 7 months old during the attack and is considered the youngest survivor of the Hamas attack.
Q: How did Devora Mintz describe the experience of being trapped during the attack?
A: Mintz said the attack was extremely intense. She recalled, “I was ready to die.”
Q: what are some of the immediate challenges the family faces now?
A: Family currently resides in temporary housing and is displaced from their home. Mintz had hoped to retire and return to the kibbutz with her family,but their future remains uncertain.
Q: What kind of lasting impact did the attack have on the family?
A: The attack has caused lasting trauma. Mintz describes that everyday sounds, such as a motorcycle, can cause extreme fear. She also mentioned survivor’s guilt, questioning why she survived when others did not.
Q: Looking back, what are some of the things Devora Mintz is grateful for?
A: Despite the trauma, Mintz expressed profound gratitude. She is thankful for being with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson during the attack. She is also grateful for the support from those standing with the Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism.
Q: What languages does Kai speak?
A: Kai is described as a bright and multilingual child. He understands three languages: Hebrew, English, and Spanish.
Q: In what ways does Kai represent hope and resilience?
A: Although the family’s future is unclear, Kai’s survival serves as a powerful symbol of hope and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. Mintz sees Kai as special, and through him, she and her family “realizes that the soldiers came and saved us.”
Q: Where can I learn more about Devora Mintz’s experience?
A: You can watch an interview with Devora Mintz below: