Gali’s Story – Victims of Terror

From ordinary teenager to extraordinary hero: The story of Gali Eilon, a teenager who stood up when her community needed her most.

On October 7, 17-year-old Gali Eilon guided IDF soldiers to trapped civilians in Kfar Aza, saving dozens of lives while terrorists roamed outside.

Gali lost her father, Tal Eilon z”l, during the battle, but carries on his legacy of bravery and his dream of living in peace in Kfar Aza.

At the UIA Women’s Division Gala, Gali overcame overwhelming emotion with the support of Iranian activist Elica Le Bon, inadvertently creating an iconic moment of solidarity between Jewish and Iranian women.

Gali’s story is one of Israeli resilience, hope, and sheer determination to rebuild her kibbutz and her community’s future.

The UIA supported Communities2Gether initiative is helping Kfar Aza rebuild and residents are beginning to return.

Kfar Aza under seige

On October 7, the quiet of a Shabbat and Yom Tov morning in Kibbutz Kfar Aza was shattered by the sounds of gunfire and terror. For 15-year-old Gali Eilon, this became the day that she lost everything and yet still emerged as an Israeli hero. What began with the sound of sirens ended in the loss of her beloved father, Tal Eilon z”l, and a battle for survival of every member of Kfar Aza.

As Gali, who was staying at her grandmother’s house that Simchat Torah weekend told us, “We jumped out of bed and ran to the safe room. My younger brother, Roi, sent a message in our family group saying that there were terrorists in the kibbutz and that Dad went out to fight. At first, when Roi sent that message, I couldn’t believe it. It just didn’t make sense, and honestly, I didn’t want to believe there were terrorists in the Kibbutz. But only a few minutes later, videos of gunmen began circulating in our WhatsApp groups. The whole kibbutz was filled with the sound of gunfire and fear. The gunshots got closer, the windows shattered, and the terrorists entered our home. I can’t fully express the fear I felt in that moment. All I could do was accept that this might be the end for me.”

It was at that moment that IDF soldiers arrived and fought the terrorists. Saving Gali and her family. The battle was intense and “three of those soldiers gave their lives to save us, Amir Fischer, Ben Bronstein, Yona Betzalel Brief.”

Many soldiers were also injured, and Gali’s grandmother’s house became both a makeshift hospital and a base for soldiers fighting terrorists in the Kibbutz. It was in this moment that Gali also shifted from hiding to helping. “I’ll find a way to help them,” she recalled thinking. Without hesitation, she stepped up to direct soldiers unfamiliar with the kibbutz to where they needed to be. With only Google Maps and her community’s WhatsApp group, Gali became an impromptu dispatcher, guiding the unit to those in danger and to homes under attack. In doing so, she saved dozens of lives.

Tal Eilon’s z”l legacy

While Gali fought to protect her neighbours, her father Tal, commander of the kibbutz’s first-response team, was also on the frontlines. His leadership saved many, but tragically, he was killed in the battle. “He was a hero my entire life, not just on that day,” Gali said of her father. “Losing him is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through.”

Despite the trauma, Gali and her family have returned to their community with a determination to rebuild. “No fear will ever make me give up Kfar Aza,” she declared. For her and her generation, especially the young women, October 7 marked a turning point — a moment that forced them to step up, shoulder responsibility, and protect their people in ways that are unfathomable to those of us in the diaspora.

Standing in solidarity

Gali shared her experience last month at UIA Women’s Division events held in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. At the UIA Women’s Division Gala in Melbourne, Gali took to the stage to tell her story. But, just as she began to speak she became overwhelmed with emotion. She left the stage and was told she did not need to get back up. However, at this moment Elica Le Bon, Iranian-born activist and keynote speaker stepped up, held Gali on the stage and supported her through the rest of her important story. Elica later said that the reason she wanted Gali to get back on stage, “was not for the audience but so she could record this as a core memory of something she was so sure that she couldn’t do, and yet managed to conquer. I wanted her to remember her resilience. At 17, I could never have done this. But she did, and I’m glad she will always remember that.”

For the room of women, this was the most powerful moment and image of the night – an Iranian woman, standing beside and holding up an Israeli woman. A moment of solidarity and true allyship. It was the sentinel moment that filled the entire room of 1300 women with hope for the future despite the darkness that surrounds us.

The long road home

Thanks to the Communities2Gether initiative – the long road to recovery has begun and the residents of Kfar Aza are returning home.

With support from Keren Hayesod–UIA, the kibbutz is being physically rebuilt and emotionally restored. 150 temporary homes have already been constructed in Ruhama, where most of the community now lives. For families scattered across Israel during the evacuation, great care is being taken to keep them connected, ensuring no one is left behind.

While many buildings remain in ruins, the heart of the community beats stronger than ever. The village centre is under construction, and homes, office spaces, and public areas are gradually coming back to life.

While waiting to return to Kfar Aza Gali says she dreams of running through the kibbutz fields again, of telling her future children how their grandfather and so many others fought to make their home safe.

In the words of Elica Le Bon, “One truth can outshine a thousand lies.” That night on stage in front of 1300 proud Zionist women, the truth was undeniable — the resilience of women like Gali and the strength of those who stand beside them can overcome even the darkest of times.

Learn more about UIA supported Communities2Gether and donate to Kibbutz Kfar Aza’s recovery and rebuild: