Nira Ronen and Angie Aguirre of Kfar Aza – October 7 | Kan 7.10.360

A Red Alert siren pierces the air in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Eighty-five-year-old Nira Ronen wakes in her safe room, which doubles as her bedroom. Her caregiver, Angelyn (Angie) Aguirre, 32, a Filipino national, joins her inside the safe room. Angie had started caring for Nira only three weeks earlier, yet a close bond had already formed. The day before, several of Nira’s relatives visited. She sat with her grandson, Amit, on the porch, talking for a long while, as her daughter Nitzan photographed them—unaware it would be her mother’s final image

The rocket barrages continue without pause as Nira calls her brother, Moti. She tells him there is “heavy shelling” and gunfire within the kibbutz. He instructs her to gather enough water for eight hours, ensure Angie joins her in the safe room, and lock the door behind them. Angie takes the phone, explaining that the safe room door won’t lock, and they’ll need to hold the handle shut. “That’s right,” he replies, “with all the strength you can.” “Then that’s what we’ll do,” Angie answers. Nira calls the rest of her family—including her four children, Chen, Tzlil, Nitzan, and Niv—remaining calm and even joking with them

Nira speaks with her daughter, Nitzan, and jokes, "I found Dad’s walking cane here. If needed, I’ll have something to fight with." Minutes later, her grandson Omri calls. She tells him about the loud explosions and gunfire outside and admits she is frightened. Omri reassures her that security forces will arrive soon to rescue them. He ends the call to prepare for deployment to southern Israel as a reserve officer in an elite unit

Nira’s son, Tzlil, texts Angie to understand their condition. She replies, “I’m scared.” He urges her, “Be strong.” Nira continues speaking with relatives, this time with her granddaughter, Maayan. Suddenly loud explosions erupt, yet she maintains a composed, even cheerful tone and tells Maayan, “Don’t worry — I’m not leaving you yet”

Nira speaks with her daughter, Chen, and they even joke. Her other daughter, Nitzan, joins the conference call. About ten minutes later, at 9:15, gunfire erupts extremely close—right outside the house. Nira's daughters hear their mother whisper in terror, “I’m dying.” They tell her to keep absolutely quiet. Nitzan guides her to breathe deeply. Silence falls on the line, and after thirty seconds, the call cuts off. Apparently, around this time, the terrorists break into the house, enter the safe room, and shoot Nira and Angie to death. The two are later found on Angie’s sofa bed in the safe room. The terrorists throw Nira’s phone into the toilet

After the call drops, family members attempt to direct security forces to Nira’s house, without success. They persist in calling Nira and Angie, but receive no response