Old Nitzanim site

During the War of Independence, 22-year-old Mira-Miriam Ben-Ari participated in the defense of the Lonely Point and endured all the threats that came to Nitzanim. Mira was sent to a radio operator course and was the liaison between the immigrant ships that were approaching to dock on the southern coast and those waiting for them on the shore. Thanks to her skills, she was the radio operator for Kibbutz Nitzanim when the Egyptian raid on the kibbutz began. As a radio operator, she remained with the fighters even after they evacuated the women and children, including her son Danny.

When her husband went out one day to raid Beit Dras, she told him: "Go and fulfill your duty thoroughly, so that I may be proud of you." With the evacuation of the children and mothers from the point, Mira remained there as an irreplaceable radio operator and, together with her friends, withstood the Egyptian attacks.

After the advance of the Egyptian column near Ashdod was halted, Kibbutz Nitzanim remained in their rear. The Egyptians realized that this point could serve as a base for our forces' operations in their rear, and so they shelled it for several days, finally concentrating a significant force to capture it. The Egyptian attack was launched on June 7, 1948. The farm was heavily shelled during the night, and in the morning an infantry assault began, but this was stopped by the defenders' fire. The Egyptians increased the shelling and even used aircraft to bomb the farm, causing heavy damage. Under cover of the bombardment, Egyptian infantry and armored forces advanced and managed to penetrate the farm and take control of it. Mira buried the radio in the ground and went out to the enemy, accompanied by the commander of the place, to discuss surrender. When three Egyptian officers approached them, one of them took out his pistol and shot the commander, who fell on the spot. Mira pulled her pistol from her shirt, shot the Egyptian officer, and killed him. Mira stood alone against the two enemy officers, behind whom stood dozens of Egyptian soldiers, armed from head to toe, but she did not ask for mercy. She was shot and killed on Iyar 29, 5708 (7.6.1948), and was laid to rest in a mass grave in old Nitzana. In 2021, Avi Nesher's film "A Picture of Victory" was released, which deals with the battle for Kibbutz Nitzanim during the War of Independence, and focuses on the figure of Mira Ben Ari, one of the defenders of the kibbutz, and the Egyptian journalist Muhammad Hassanin Heikhal. The film presents a dual narrative of the battle, from Mira Ben Ari's Jewish perspective and from the other side of the Egyptian army.

Memorial site photos: Avishay Tycher