Sigal Ben Shitrit

Live TV updates from the safe room

Sigal Ben Shitrit

On Saturday morning, Sigal Ben Shitrit and her daughter Ofri woke up to the sound of alarms in their home. When the gunfire started at the kibbutz, and they were unable to reach the police, Sigal decided to contact the media for help. She went live and spoke with KAN 11 while terrorists were knocking on her door.

Sigal Ben Shitrit with her three children: Amit, Ofri and Einav

Live TV updates from the safe room

Sigal Ben Shitrit

Minute by Minute Circle
06:30
07:19
08:01
~11:37
~12:20
+~12:30

The sequence of events

Minute by Minute

Click on the points on the timeline for a real-time tour. Clicking on the icons will display the event documentation.

06:30

Alarms in Sufa

07:19

“There are many terrorists in Sufa”

08:01

Sigal discovers that the door to their safe room is faulty

~11:37

Sigal to Kan 11: “It's like a real war here. It’s terrifying to be here.”

~12:20

The IDF arrives to Sufa

+~12:30

Sigal and Ofri are rescued by soldiers

Exit Media
Exit Media

Sigal Ben Shitrit woke up to the sound of alarms. She ran to her daughter Ofri's (16) bedroom, which serves as the house's safe room, along with their dog Tommy. Normally, Ofri would go for her morning run at that time, but that day she was tired and stayed home. They both watched TV to stay updated on the situation.

Exit Media
Sigal, Ofri and the dog Tommy in the safe room
Sigal, Ofri and the dog Tommy in the safe room
Exit Media

Four terrorists infiltrate the kibbutz through the western gate. They went house to house, knocking on doors and trying to open them. One of the kibbutz members sent a message in the group’s WhatsApp, warning of the terrorists. Sigal and Ofri were in the safe room when they heard a 'Purple Rain' alert (warning of mortar bombs) from the military post near Sufa. Soon after, they heard gunfire and explosions.

Exit Media
A member of Kibbutz Sufa sent a warning about terrorists in the group WhatsApp
00:00
00:00
Exit Media

Sigal and Ofri hear noises and gunfire near their house. They realize that the door to their safe room doesn’t close properly, so at one point, they go into the kitchen to grab a knife for self-defense, along with some water and cookies.

Exit Media
    • Disable
    Sigal describes her time in the safe room Photograph: Evening News
    Exit Media
    Correspondence in the family WhatsApp group
    Rachel (sister)
    Sigal, how are you?
    08:01 07/10/2023
    Mom
    They are in the safe room
    08:02 07/10/2023
    Sigal
    Feeling stressed in the kibbutz, we are in the safe room and not going out.
    08:05 07/10/2023
    Sahar (brother)
    Lock the doors, they say there are terrorists infiltrating.
    08:06 07/10/2023
    Sigal
    Yes, they are knocking on doors to see who will open, it's really scary
    08:07 07/10/2023
    Exit Media

    Sigal goes live on Kan 11 (Israeli public broadcast live TV channel) from the safe room, begging for help to save the kibbutz members quickly. She tells the anchor, Michal Rabinovich, that terrorists are trying to break into houses in the kibbutz and that the sounds of gunfire around her are continuous. She expresses her concern for the other kibbutz members, explaining that she and her daughter have been in the safe room for hours, with the kibbutz's generator providing electricity. At one point during the conversation, she hears knocking at the door and whispers.

    Exit Media
      • Disable
      Sigal calls for help live on air
      Exit Media

      The Kibbutz Ravshatz (Military Ongoing Security Coordinator) reports that the IDF has arrived at the kibbutz. A fight begins between the soldiers and the terrorists.

      Exit Media
      Correspondence in the family WhatsApp group
      Sigal
      The army has finally arrived
      00:20 07/10/2023
      Sahar (brother)
      Thank God
      00:21 07/10/2023
      Mom
      Thank God
      00:21 07/10/2023
      Exit Media

      After 30 hours of staying in the safe room in silence and darkness, Sigal, Ofri, and their dog Tommy leave the house accompanied by soldiers and begin their journey to Eilat, where they will live for about three months.

      Exit Media
        • Disable
        Sigal Ben Shitrit on the days after 7.10 Photograph: Evening News

        The Day After

        January 2024

        Moving to Ramat Gan
        Exit Media

        Some of the kibbutz residents are evacuated to residential buildings in Ramat Gan, including Sigal and Ofri.

        Exit Media
          • Disable
          Sigal and Ofri new house in Ramat Gan Photograph: Evening News
          Exit Image
          Exit Media