Nir Oz, a ‘paradise’ now inhabited by just two people, sustained the most damage and bloodshed per capita in Hamas attack

Post is no longer delivered to Nir Oz kibbutz; the lights in the mailroom are off, and the floor is gathering dust. Many of the metal boxes bearing each family’s name now have new labels: red and black stickers that say “killed” or “hostage”.

Natan Bahat, 82, knew nothing would be waiting for him, but half-heartedly checked his postbox anyway. “Time stopped here on 7 October,” he said.