'I'm humbled to hear about your acts of heroism,' says Ivanka Trump on visit to Israeli community devastated by Hamas

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner touched down in Israel on Wednesday night for a 24-hour solidarity visit. The daughter and son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who also served as Trump's senior advisors during his four-year presidential term from Jan 2017 to Jan 2021, visited Israel amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Islamic terrorist group Hamas.

Israel launched a counter-offensive in the Gaza Strip after Hamas stormed the southern border on Oct. 7, and shot and butchered 1,200 civilians, including women, children, infants and the elderly, while abducting 240 to the Gaza coastal enclave.  

While visiting Israel, the couple stayed at the Royal Beach Hotel in Tel Aviv before traveling south to visit Kibbutz Kfar Aza where 64 people were murdered, 19 kidnapped and numerous others wounded on Oct. 7. Five residents of Kfar Aza are still being held captive by terrorists in Gaza.

Trump and Kushner were accompanied by Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana during their visit to Kfar Aza where they spoke with former residents of the Israeli village.

As I depart from Israel, my heart fills with a mix of sorrow and hope.

Witnessing the aftermath of the October 7th terrorist attack, I heard heart-wrenching stories from victims, families, soldiers, and first responders. Their strength amid the despair was profoundly moving and… pic.twitter.com/fI73Zpfuq8

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) December 21, 2023

Kfar Aza is located just 2 miles from the Gaza border and Shejaiya, a stronghold of the Hamas terror group. The kibbutz is one of dozens that were decimated by the Islamic terror group on the day Israelis now call the "Black Shabbat."

The former U.S. diplomats went door-to-door to speak with former residents who told the couple about their family members and neighbors who were abducted or slaughtered by the Hamas terrorists.

One resident, Shachar Schnorman, told the couple that he and his wife, Ayelet Cohen, were the first residents to return to the community.

Another former resident, Maor Morvia, told them: “We must defeat Hamas so that our children can come back here to play in the fields. It must not happen again.”

Chen Kotler, a former resident of the kibbutz, gave Trump a commemorative dog tag inscribed with the words, “Kfar Aza is my home” and told Kushner: “Hopefully, someday I can host you in my home.”

Ivanka and I traveled to Israel to bear witness.

It’s important to see with one’s own eyes the lingering effects of the barbaric and unspeakable acts of October 7.

We met with families of those that were kindnapped, including some still in Gaza. We met with several political… pic.twitter.com/bxW2KjplXF

— Jared Kushner (@jaredkushner) December 21, 2023

While visiting the kibbutz, Trump and Kushner also heard from the Israel Border Police and IDF soldiers who battled the terrorists and helped save lives on that devastating day.

One female IDF soldier walked with them through the kibbutz and described the environment there before the attack.

“It was the safest, most happiest piece of heaven that you can find,” she said.

The couple also heard testimony from ZAKA volunteers who were overwhelmed with the smell of death as they sorted through the rubble and destruction, as some of Israel's first teams on site.

ZAKA is an Israel-based organization entirely operated by volunteers and specializes in disaster victim identification, search and rescue, and the recovery of human remains. 

While at Kfar Aza, Trump and Kushner were permitted to step inside the homes that were burned and destroyed on Oct. 7.

One of those homes is now a memorial site where there is a display plastered on the walls of the safe room posting the final texts of the residents who fell victim to the Hamas attack. Kushner and Trump viewed IDF footage of the Oct. 7 attack and were visibly shaken by their visit and Israeli media reported they held back tears while taking in the enormity of the devastation.

At the conclusion of the tour, the couple presented female security forces with commemorative medallions for their heroic acts of courage defending Israel’s southern border amid the chaotic and unprecedented surprise attack.

Speaking directly to the female officers, Trump said, “Thank you for sharing your stories with us. I am humbled to be here by your side and hear about your acts of heroism. What you did had a huge impact. I thank you and appreciate you.”

The couple also hugged leaders of the kibbutz before departing.

According to Ynet news, the former U.S. senior advisors were scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog before departing later on Thursday.