On October 7, 2026, Israeli Defense Forces reservist Major Nimrod Palmach took a bold decision to defy his commander's orders and drive south to rescue his ex-wife's boyfriend and children, who were trapped in their safe room at Kibbutz Nir Oz. Palmach had been at home with his family when he received urgent messages from his commander. He quickly left without waking his family, forgetting to put on shoes, and began receiving videos and messages showing terrorists inside Israeli communities.
Palmach's decision to head south was reinforced by a call from his ex-wife, whose boyfriend and children were in danger. Despite being instructed to report to Jerusalem, Palmach followed his gut feeling and contacted soldiers and others he knew, trying to gather people who could help. He was carrying his personal handgun and limited ammunition when he met Kiriel Shutko, another civilian with military experience who had also headed south.
As Palmach and Shutko continued into the area under attack, Palmach began recording on his phone what he was encountering. He stopped beneath a tree and recorded a short video for his children, Guni and Aluma, in case he did not survive. Palmach and Shutko eventually reached Kibbutz Alumim, where hundreds of civilians were hiding as terrorists attempted to enter their establishment.
Palmach joined soldiers and others fighting at the kibbutz and, together, they prevented 30 Hamas terrorists from entering Kibbutz Alumim. When Palmach's ammunition ran out, he grabbed the weapon of a soldier who had been killed and continued fighting. During the battle, he was shot in the chest but did not realise the extent of the wound at the time.
Palmach later discovered that his sternum had been broken. Despite his injuries, he continued to record the atrocities he witnessed, including the massacre in Kibbutz Be'eri, where more than 100 residents were murdered and others were abducted to Gaza. Palmach fought for about 15 hours on October 7 and survived the day, returning to his family.
Almost three years later, Palmach shared his first-hand account with a Johannesburg audience at Rabbi Shmuel Moffson's shul in Glenhazel, South Africa. He explained that he had contacted a psychologist the following morning, aware that his experience would affect him. Palmach's testimony has since become part of Survived to Tell – Be the Witness, a virtual-reality project allowing audiences to hear survivors' accounts while virtually experiencing the places in which they occurred.
Palmach's book, Rebel Heart, which details his experience on October 7, is available on Amazon. His story serves as a testament to the atrocities perpetrated against humanity and the importance of bearing witness to such events. Through his account, Palmach hopes to raise awareness and promote understanding of the events that unfolded on that fateful day.
Key points
- Major Nimrod Palmach defied orders to rescue his ex-wife's boyfriend and children from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
- Palmach fought for 15 hours on October 7, preventing 30 Hamas terrorists from entering Kibbutz Alumim.
- His testimony is part of the Survived to Tell – Be the Witness virtual-reality project.
