They managed to repel several waves of terror attacks, preventing terrorists from reaching the children’s houses.
By Hezy Laing
On October 7, 2023, as Hamas launched its unprecedented assault on southern Israel, two brothers from Beersheba, Noam Slotzki, aged 31, and his younger brother Yishay, aged 24, made the fateful decision to rush to the defense of Kibbutz Alumim.
They had not been called up by the IDF and were armed only with handguns, but of their own volition, they rushed to defend fellow Israelis in danger.
The kibbutz, located just a few kilometers from the Gaza border, was one of the first civilian communities targeted in the early hours of the attack.
Armed Hamas squads infiltrated the perimeter, firing automatic weapons and RPGs, attempting to breach homes and communal buildings.
When Noam and Yishay arrived, they joined a small group of defenders that included kibbutz security personnel and off duty soldiers.
The battle at Alumim lasted several hours.
Witnesses reported that the attackers arrived in pickup trucks and motorcycles, numbering between 20 and 30 terrorists.
The defenders, vastly outnumbered, relied on rifles and limited ammunition to hold them back.
Noam, who had previously served in the IDF’s Armored Corps, took up a defensive position near the entrance to the kibbutz, while Yishay, recently discharged from his own military service, fought alongside him.
They managed to repel several waves of gunfire, preventing terrorists from reaching the children’s houses and the dining hall where dozens of residents had taken shelter.
According to survivors, the brothers’ actions bought critical time until reinforcements from the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade arrived.
Tragically, both Noam and Yishay were killed during the firefight, struck by heavy gunfire as they tried to cover the retreat of civilians.
Their father, himself a former IDF combat officer, faced the unbearable task of serving in the unit responsible for identifying the dead, a role that brought him directly into contact with the aftermath of the battle that claimed his sons.
Their sacrifice has since become a symbol of courage and solidarity.
In Beersheba, thousands attended their joint funeral, with eulogies delivered by Mayor Rubik Danilovich and IDF representatives.
Kibbutz Alumim erected a memorial plaque at the site of the battle, inscribed with their names and the words “They gave their lives so we could live.”
The Slotzki family has been honored in national ceremonies, including the official state memorial for victims of October 7, where President Isaac Herzog mentioned the brothers by name.
The Slotzki brothers, who never came home, are remembered as heroes whose bravery helped save dozens of lives on one of Israel’s darkest days.
