The Gates of Gaza cover art

The Gates of Gaza

A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel's Borderlands

 Preview

Audible Standard 1-month free trial

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo + applicable tax after 30-day trial. Cancel Anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

The Gates of Gaza

Written by: Amir Tibon
Narrated by: Amir Tibon
Try for $0.00

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $40.12

Buy Now for $40.12

The gripping true story of how leading Israeli journalist Amir Tibon, along with his wife and their two young children, were rescued from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023 by Tibon’s own father—an incredible tale of survival that also reveals the deep tensions and systemic failures that led to Hamas’s attacks that day.

On the morning of October 7, Amir Tibon and his wife were awakened by mortar rounds exploding near their home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a progressive Israeli community less than a mile from Gaza City. Soon, they were holding their two young daughters in the family’s reinforced safe room, urging them not to cry as gunfire echoed just outside the door. With his cell phone battery running low, Amir texted his father: “The girls are behaving really well, but I’m worried they’ll lose patience soon and Hamas will hear us.”

Some 45 miles north, Amir’s parents had just cut short an early morning swim along the shores of Tel Aviv. Now, they jumped in their Jeep and sped toward Nahal Oz, armed only with a pistol but intent on saving their family at all costs.

In The Gates of Gaza, Amir Tibon tells this harrowing story in full for the first time. He describes his family's ordeal—and the bravery that ultimately led to their rescue—alongside the histories of the place they call home and the systems of power that have kept them and their neighbors in Gaza in harm’s way for decades.

Woven throughout is Tibon's own expertise as a longtime international correspondent, as well as more than thirty original interviews: with residents of his kibbutz, with the Israeli soldiers who helped to wrest it from the hands of Hamas, and with experts on Gaza, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the failed peace process. More than one family's odyssey, The Gates of Gaza is the intimate story of a tight-knit community and the broader saga of war, occupation, and hostility between two national movements—a conflict that has not yet extinguished the enduring hope for peace. Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Freedom & Security Middle East Politics & Government War & Crisis Iran War Marriage

You may also enjoy...
A Call at 4 AM cover art
A Call at 4 AM Written by: Amit Segal
While Israel Slept cover art
While Israel Slept Written by: Yaakov Katz, and others
Unveiled cover art
Unveiled Written by: Yasmine Mohammed
The War of Return cover art
The War of Return Written by: Einat Wilf, and others
King of Kings cover art
King of Kings Written by: Scott Anderson
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

What the critics say

“A riveting minute by minute account of one of Israel’s darkest days, Amir Tibon’s telling of his family’s horrific ordeal — hiding for hours while terrorists overtook his kibbutz — is captivating. His father’s heroic mission to rescue them, woven together with the storied and bloodied history of the kibbutz, makes for a remarkable read.”—Bianna Golodryga, Anchor and Senior Global Affairs Analyst, CNN
“Amir Tibon has captured the horror and hope of October 7 in this compelling story of Hamas’ murderous rampage across southern Israel, of his family’s agonizing experience in their safe room while terrorists roamed outside, and of the heroism of his father, Noam, who came to their rescue. The Gates of Gaza would be an engrossing read if it were fiction; the fact that it is a true story is simply extraordinary.”—Daniel Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt
All stars
Most Relevant
Interesting, well written, accurate, makes you believe in a better world and a better future.

A great book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book was far more than I was expecting. It want much beyond just the author's experience of the horror of 10/7 and recounted a meaningful history of the region without getting lost in the woods or mired in nuance. It was really well put together. On top of that, the narration by the author himself was excellent and gripping.

Powerful and informative

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Amir shares his personal story of being rescued by his father on Oct 7th while intertwining the history of Nachal Oz. A must read for anyone grappling with understanding what happened on Oct. 7, especially those who struggle with finding empathy for the Israeli perspective. Kol HaKavod Amir. Your story brought me to tears many times.

A remarkable story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent written on a very sobering account on the history and events before and after Oct 7 2023

Excellent account of Israel’s Oct 7 2023

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved the story telling regarding October 7th and even enjoyed the history of politics in Israel. I really struggled with the demonization of Netanyahu, idealizing Biden who was no friend to Israel and sympathy for the "innocent Gazans" who we now know participated in raping, murdering and pillaging the Jewish people. I was more than halfway through the book when it took this terrible turn and left a bad taste in my mouth. I will always have mixed feelings about this book.

incredible storytelling, really problematic political commentary

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.