BINYAMINA, ISRAEL – For many in Israel, kibbutzim are familiar places where residents share property and work in a communal way of life, key sites in the country’s history and growth. That is what Bilha Inon, a 75-year-old teacher and artist, and Yakov Inon, a 78-year-old agronomist, found in their home at Kibbutz Netiv Ha’asara in southern Israel. There they raised their three daughters and two sons, all now adults.
On the morning of October 7, 2023, just meters from the Inon home, a projectile launched from an RPG exploded, according to news reports, fired by Hamas militants who stormed the kibbutz from Gaza along with other locations on the Israeli border. The attack—the deadliest in the country’s recent history—left more than 1,200 people dead, including Bilha and Yakov, and resulted in the abduction and transfer of some 250 Israelis to Gaza.
The last communication with his parents
That morning at 7:30 a.m., Yakov’s son, Maoz Inon, received an alert message from his father in a family WhatsApp group. In it, Yakov said that he and his wife were in the security room of their home and could hear bombs outside. At 7:35 a.m., Maoz called his father, who reassured him that he and his mother were in the safe room.
Five minutes later, a distressed Maoz Inon called again. This time there was no answer. The house was burning with his parents inside.
Overwhelmed by the pain of losing his parents, Maoz Inon realized he had two options: avenge their deaths or follow their lifelong example as peace activists and seek a path toward reconciliation and peace.
Two years later, sitting in his home in Binyamina, northern Israel, Maoz Inon has put his parents’ example into practice as he moves forward with his life as both an entrepreneur and an activist. Founder of several businesses that promote tourism in Israel — ventures he runs in partnership with Palestinians in the city of Nazareth, because he believes it is the only way to live in his land — Maoz Inon has also sought to internationalize his message.
A globas campaign for peace
That includes his participation at the TED2024 conference in Canada alongside Palestinian businessman and peace activist Aziz Abu Sarah, whose brother died in Israeli custody. That same year, in May 2024, the two men promoted reconciliation at a pro-peace gathering with Pope Francis in Verona, Italy; and in 2025, Maoz Inon also met in Vatican City with Pope Leo during an event in which the pontiff brought together activists working for peace and justice.
“Those who believe wars defend, that bombs bring security, are failing,” says Maoz Inon, whose work has been recognized with two major awards: the Franco-German Human Rights Prize and the Shared Living Award from the Abraham Initiatives in 2024. “The only thing that works is peace and justice.”
A book for peace
This year, Maoz Inon and Abu Sarah added another link to their mission: a jointly written book titled The Future Is Peace (Penguin Random House), to be released in April, which tells the story of the friendship they have formed in a world that expects them to be enemies. With this book and their message, they will embark on an international book tour this year.
In the end, both men share the same mission and dream: “I dream of peace,” says Maoz Inon. “I amplify peace. I legitimize it.”
