Kai Labban, a ten-day-old baby, was the newest member of Kibbutz Nirim, a peaceful community located just a mile from the Gaza border. On October 7, 2023, a devastating attack abruptly shattered their tranquility.
New parents Aimee and Uriel Labban were enjoying their time with their newborn when terror struck. Hamas terrorists invaded their home, setting it ablaze in an attempt to drive them out.
In a panic to protect their tiny, eight-pound son, they rushed to the safe room in their bedroom, finding space for him within a windowsill.
“I took the photo,” Aimee recalled. “I thought, if we don’t make it, at least people will know we tried our hardest.” She sent the picture to family members overseas, who later shared it with the media.
As this was happening, Hamas armed forces invaded the kibbutz on motorcycles and in trucks, using automatic weapons and grenades, setting civilian homes and cars on fire while shooting at residents. Uriel struggled to keep the door secure as attackers tried forcing it open. Aimee wondered why they didn’t use their RPG on them.
For nine long hours, the family endured this harrowing experience until they were rescued by Israeli Defense Forces. They were taken to an underground bunker and eventually moved to a hospital, where they received treatment for severe smoke inhalation. Kai, too, developed blood poisoning and required an oxygen tank for days.
“He was a fighter, even at just ten days old,” his mother said.
Meanwhile, the picture of Kai in the windowsill was spreading around the globe after family members circulated it. This image became a symbol of hope as Kai was recognized as the youngest survivor of the October 7 attacks.
“We focused on keeping him alive,” Aimee, 33, shared as they approached the three-year mark since the attack, which claimed the lives of 1,200 people.
“It felt like it wasn’t his time,” she added, “We felt he had more important things to accomplish.”
As the image gained traction worldwide, messages of support began pouring in from various countries like Poland, Brazil, Greece, and Russia, with many expressing their affection and sending gifts.
“People wanted to know how they could help,” Aimee remembered, noting how they received essentials such as clothes, diapers, and even a car seat.
“The generosity has been overwhelming, but in a way, Kai brings so much joy and hope to others,” she said.
In total, about 150 Hamas terrorists attacked the kibbutz in three waves, leading to the deaths of five civilians and the abduction of five others, two of whom were later killed.
While their home was completely decimated, Aimee and Uriel, both of whom work at the kibbutz—she as a teacher and he as a hydrotherapist—were determined to return. They did so in August 2025.
“This will always be our home,” Aimee stated firmly. “No one will drive us out of our country.”
Their friends and family thought they were “crazy” for coming back, yet Aimee felt it was imperative. “The message I want to impart to Kai is, never give up,” she said.
As they contemplate how to explain that tragic day to Kai, who was just a baby at the time, Aimee believes that even newborns can sense trauma.
“It was a collision of the best and worst of humanity,” she reflected. “We survived those who wished us dead, and we experienced the kindness of people from across the globe.”
Settling back into their cherished kibbutz of about 430 residents, surrounded by vibrant wildflowers and stunning desert landscapes, Aimee reflects on the past.
“Sometimes you have these moments of dread, thinking, ‘What if it happens again?’” she admitted. “But it still feels like where we belong.”
Aimee and Uriel, both diagnosed with PTSD, plan to spend October 7 at home, reflecting on what was lost and what they managed to keep safe.
“This is where we became a family, and this is where we will continue as a family.”
