Mazal (Mazooli) Darom from Kibbutz Kissufim on October 7' | Kan 7.10.360

Mazooli Darom, 89, is one of the founders of Kibbutz Kissufim. She is the widow of Israel Darom — a revered teacher in the community — and the mother of six, three of whom still live in the kibbutz. On the morning of October 7th, she is jolted awake by Red Alert sirens and takes shelter in her safe room

Noy Darom, Mazooli’s granddaughter who lives in Ramat Gan, calls to warn her about rumours circulating in various WhatsApp groups, claiming that terrorists have infiltrated the kibbutz. She urges her not to leave the house

Mazooli hears her front door being smashed. She emerges from the safe room and sees four men in civilian clothes rummaging through her belongings. One of them is eating an apple and offers her a bite. She refuses, stays silent, and pretends to be mute. After a few tense moments, the four leave. Mazooli tries to call her daughter, Drorit Darom, who lives nearby on the same street, but the call goes unanswered

With her front door shattered, Mazooli begins walking between houses on her street, searching for shelter—but none of her neighbors open their doors. As she moves along, she notices that one of the men who breached her home is following her. He notices her phone and asks for it. With a wave of her hand, Mazooli dismisses him. Calmly, she tells him in English that she’s going to her daughter, then continues on her way

Mazooli arrives at her daughter Drorit’s house, bursts into tears, and tells her what happened. The two retreat into the safe room and remain there together for the rest of the day

Noy, Drorit’s daughter, messages her mother on WhatsApp, warning that there are terrorists in the area where her grandmother, Mazal, lives. Drorit replies that she hears shouting outside the house and adds, “Grandma is cracking jokes.”

Mazal and Drorit hear noises outside. They glance through the window and see IDF tanks

IDF forces arrive at Drorit’s house. Drorit is evacuated to a secure location near Kibbutz Urim, as Mazal asks to return home under military escort to retrieve her medication

IDF soldiers escort Mazooli back to her home. As she gathers her belongings, gunfire erupts. The soldiers rush Mazooli into the safe room and fire back. The exchange lasts for about an hour. When Mazooli steps out of the safe room, the shooting resumes. One of the soldiers pulls her to the ground and shields her with his body. Overwhelmed by fear and pain, she begins to cry. The soldier comforts her, assuring her they are protecting her. After nearly two more hours of combat, Mazooli and the soldiers head toward the buses waiting outside the kibbutz, as gunfire continues in the background. After the evacuation, the terrorists set Mazooli’s house on fire. Burning it to the ground

Mazooli, Drorit, and the rest of Kissufim’s residents are evacuated to the Dead Sea