Hero grandmother rescues two grandkids but ex was kidnapped into Gaza
EXCLUSIVE: Hero grandmother, 71, held missile proof shelter door shut for SEVEN HOURS as Hamas terrorists fired bullets and tried to break in – as family reveals she and her two grandkids survived but her ex-husband was kidnapped into Gaza
- Due to concerns for their safety, the names of the grandmother and grandchildren who survived the horrific assault in Kibbutz Nir-Oz have not been disclosed.
- Alex Dancyg, a 75-year-old grandfather, was taken from his residence on the kibbutz. It is suspected that he is among the individuals being held captive by Hamas.
- Israeli authorities declared on Monday that the approximate count of individuals abducted by Hamas has reached 200.
The son of an Israeli grandmother has shared that she bravely kept a steel door to a shelter closed for seven hours to safeguard herself and her grandchildren from Hamas militants.
The 71-year-old, who has not been identified over fears for her safety, bravely blocked the Hamas militants, who tried to break in and who fired round after round of Gunshots were fired into the residence of a family residing in Kibbutz Nir-Oz during the early morning of October 7th.
The DailyMail.com was informed by her son, who chose to remain anonymous, that she and her two grandchildren were able to escape from Hamas due to her actions.
Regrettably, the man who was previously married to the woman and is the father of her son, Alex Dancyg, 75 years old, was one of the approximately 80 individuals taken away from the kibbutz on that particular day.
Dancyg is a world-renowned Polish-Israeli activist and a highly respected historian and educator of Holocaust studies. He has not been heard from since his capture on October 7.
Alex Dancyg, 75, a world renowned Polish-Israeli activist, was abducted from the safety of his own home on the same kibbutz that more than 80 people were slaughtered
The devastation at the kibbutz after Hamas slaughtered more than 80 innocent civilians – mothers, fathers, children, babies, and elderly – and took others hostage
A scenic picture of the tree-lined road of the kibbutz before Hamas ambushed the scene
Dancyg’s son remembered when his mother became aware of the alarms signaling the need for residents to seek refuge in the missile-proof shelter.
A shelter that is resistant to missiles, also known as a safe room or “mamad” in Hebrew, is a building made of reinforced concrete. This room is equipped with a steel door and windows made of glass that can withstand impacts.
He clarified that the regular occurrence of high-pitched alarms is typical for residents in such close proximity to the border, but on October 7th, there was a notable distinction.
At approximately 6:30 am, he mentioned that his mother observed a large group of individuals wearing black attire and carrying firearms from afar.
He stated that his mother entered a state of intense survival instincts and quickly guided herself and her two young grandchildren to the shelter within their residence.
The terrified children remained silent, hiding behind the steel door, while they listened to the Hamas terrorists attempting to forcefully enter from the other side.
Dancyg’s son mentioned that his mother informed him about the unfortunate incident where their family dog was shot and all of her cherished paintings, which she considered her ‘life works,’ were subsequently destroyed.
He recalled that his childhood home was vandalized and ransacked, but mentioned that despite terrorists shooting bullets through the door in an attempt to harm them, his mother bravely clung to the handle of the steel bomb door.
“He stated that the pigs continuously fired automatic bursts without any interruption… without any interruption… without any interruption.”
Dancyg’s son expressed with anger, “The bullets begin to pierce, causing stress, but my mother remains determined.”
He stated that if there is a divine being in the sky, they will discover during this time that the bullets that go through the door actually strike the wall and not the mother.
Time continues to elapse… assistance is absent… and there is no aid available.
The Nir-Oz kibbutz shows a lush landscape of gardens and trees and beautiful homes before its residents were savaged, killed and abducted during the October 7 deadly rampage
On October 7, a sacred day of Shabbat for the Jewish community, Israeli soldiers arrived near a kibbutz in response to a surprise attack carried out by Hamas terrorists targeting innocent civilians.
An Israeli soldier standing with his weapon surrounded by destruction at one of the kibbutz’s i Southern Isreal where the unprecedented attack took place
Dancyg’s son, an accomplished musician, recalled as a child singing and dancing and enjoying life at the kibbutz that he called ‘one of the most beautiful places in the world’
Dancyg’s son expressed his uncertainty about the fate of his daughter, niece, and mother, as he waited and prayed anxiously.
“He mentioned that while we were in occupied Nir-Oz, we anxiously anticipated any indication of life from within our souls. We united in prayer and shed tears together.”
After enduring seven hours of violence and devastation, the Israeli military reached the kibbutz and successfully rescued its inhabitants. However, the mother, deeply affected by the traumatic events, remained gripping the handle of the steel door until the soldiers arrived.
Dancyg’s son remembered his mother expressing disbelief that the ‘hell had ended.’
The massacre lasted two days as the heartless murderers armed with machine guns, RPGs, portable grenades, knives, driving motorcycles and trucks came to the kibbutz ‘to kill’ before the Israeli army arrived.
He expressed that his mother managed to survive and played a crucial role in saving his daughter’s life. For a duration of seven hours, she firmly held onto the shelter’s handle until the army arrived. She is regarded as the hero of our family.
The exact number of deaths in the kibbutz during the massacre is unknown, but many of his mother’s friends were tragically killed.
Following the violent and brutal assault, the military relocated the survivors to a secure facility where they would receive necessary care and protection.
Dancyg’s son informed DailyMail.com that not only his mother but also his brother and sister, who reside in the same kibbutz, have been impacted by the violence and distress caused by the Hamas attacks.
One family member, who was too traumatized to speak, also struggled with the armed terrorists bravely fighting with them toThey managed to survive, saving both themselves and their family. They were fortunate to be among the survivors.
IDF officials said on Sunday, the death toll in Israel from the surprise Hamas attack is nowCNN reported that the number is believed to exceed 1,400.
A State Department official has reported that a minimum of 30 individuals who are citizens of the United States have passed away in Israel.
A map displays the position of the Nir-Oz kibbutz, which is situated just a short distance away from the Gaza border.
Dancyg’s son and family, who are artists and musicians, performed at a Sukkot celebration on Sept. 30 at the Kibbutz Nir-Oz a week after the savage attack
Israeli officials revealed on Monday that around 200 individuals, including children, elderly people, and military personnel, have been abducted by Hamas.
Last week, Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the IDF, informed Israeli media that 120 families have received official notifications regarding their family members being held captive by the Palestinian militant group.
Dancyg’s son mentioned that his father was one of the captives, describing the stark difference between their cherished home and the escalating terror that emerged after the declaration of the ‘long war’.
He shared nostalgic memories from his childhood in the kibbutz, mentioning that his mother, who was an artist, took great pride in constructing their home with her own hands.
The Nir-Oz Kibbutz is among 20 Israeli communities located just a few miles away from the Gaza Strip.
Dancyg’s son, an accomplished musician, who plays bass and teaches music, recalled as a child singing and dancing and enjoying life at the kibbutz that he called ‘one of the most beautiful places in the world.’
The area, called a kibbutzim, is a peaceful farming multi-age community surrounded by lush nature filled with residents who have lived their for decades and young Israeli’s, who have settled there, to raise their families.
Dancyg’s son expressed that Kibbutz Nir-Oz was lost, taking away not only childhood, innocence, memories, and albums but also precious lives that were tragically cut short. These lives were subjected to torment.
‘My mother is one lioness who saved three souls…a lion, but a very, very wounded lion. 71-years-old only doing good for the world.’
Dancyg’s son said his father was born in Poland in 1948, the same year Israel became a nation and he prays that he is still alive, but he’s heard no word from him since he was taken.
He mentioned that his father is in poor health following a heart attack, and shared that he relies on medication and oxygen for breathing.
He mentioned that one of the most notable accomplishments of his father was the contribution he made in Poland.
“He accomplished a significant amount of impressive tasks,” he stated.
In Poland, he is recognized for his views on the Holocaust and politics, which have been the subject of several films. Additionally, teams from Poland visited the Kibbutz.
Dancyg, who has lived on the Nir-Oz kibbutz since he turned 18, is the child of Holocaust survivors. According to his son, he is known for being a devoted father and grandfather, a role that he deeply valued.
Another son of Dancyg, who did not speak to DailyMail.com, but addressed his father’s capture online, said: ‘A son of Holocaust survivors your parents came to Israel so something like this would never happen and they are turning in their graves.’
The unique and exquisite paintings created by the heroic grandmother were tragically destroyed by the terrorists.
The artwork created by the heroic grandmother, which sadly no longer exists, was destroyed by Hamas terrorists who invaded her residence in Kibbutz Nir-Oz.
Dancyg’s son reported that the possessions representing his mother’s life, which were kept in her house, were destroyed when Hamas invaded her kibbutz with the intention of harming her and her two grandchildren.
On September 30th, he mentioned that he and his artistic and musical family were at the kibbutz, enjoying themselves by playing music and celebrating the Sukkot holiday. The evening was filled with joyous festivities, music, and dancing.
However, this situation drastically changed on October 7 when the kibbutz was completely destroyed by fire.
Lorenn Peer, 43, a mother of three who moved to Israel in 2012 from New York, told DailyMail.com that she is a disciple of Dancyg and is also a Holocaust educator.
She has been making efforts to provide support and solace to his devastated family during these extremely difficult times. Additionally, she prays for his freedom, as well as for the release of the other individuals who are currently being held hostage.
She referred to Alex Dancyg as a ‘mentor’ and an ‘exceptional teacher.’
She stated that he is an exceptional teacher, possessing wit, humor, and intelligence. He has been a source of inspiration for his colleagues, students, and followers for more than three decades.
On the morning of October 7, these barbarian monsters mercilessly captured and harmed the strong hands that had tenderly nurtured the land of the kibbutz, despite the brilliance of the mind behind them.
She pleaded urgently, saying, “I implore you, time is running out!”
Artists in Warsaw are currently creating murals on the streets, featuring the phrase ‘Help Bring Alex Home’ accompanied by the hashtag #StandWithAlex.
Alex Dancyg was abducted from his residence at Nir-Oz kibbutz on October 7th and there has been no contact or sighting of him since then.
Following the cruel assault, numerous messages expressing concern for Dancyg’s well-being have been received from students and colleagues in Israel and Poland. Certain individuals are creating street murals depicting him in Warsaw, while others are sending messages filled with hope and prayers.
The Facebook group, ‘Help Bring Alex Home #StandwithAlex,’ was created that has garnered more than 1 million followers.
The caption reads: ‘ Pole on the list of people kidnapped by Hamas in Israel. This is Alex Dancyg, a historian, participant of Polish-Jewish dialogue, who cooperated with the Yad Vashem Institute for many years.’
Alex’s son has requested that you notify all of Alex’s friends and acquaintances to begin sharing numerous posts about him on Facebook. The objective is to have as many of these posts as possible circulating among different individuals, featuring stories about Alex, his photos, links to books about him, recordings, films, and reports from meetings.
His son believes that having more posts could potentially save his father, so he thinks it is important to increase the number of posts.
He further stated: Kindly distribute this message to individuals who are acquainted with Alex and can participate!
Friends and colleagues of Dancyg expressed their prayers and hopes for his survival on Facebook at the Auschwitz Memorial.
The post stated, “We are familiar with him. He is a righteous individual, someone who embodies truth and displays immense kindness. He upholds justice, exhibits grace, and is known for his generosity (Quran 60:90).”
“He dedicated his efforts to educating others about the destructive nature of the evil, corrupt, and irreligious regime of Nazi Germany, which posed a threat to virtuous, peaceful, and blameless individuals. He holds a special place in our hearts.”
‘We appeal for his release (3:133-134) to anyone who can influence it (59:9). Fighting against what is perceived as evil cannot lead to even greater evil. The innocent and righteous have the right to live in harmony and peace.’
