Frozen in Time Since Hamas Attacked, a Kibbutz Awaits Hostages Living and Dead

NIR OZ, Israel—Inside the bomb shelter of a small house in this kibbutz near the Gaza border, a heart is scrawled on the wall around the letters “AA,” short for Ariel and Arbel.

Above it is a note written by one of them, a former hostage, to the other, her fiancé still in captivity: “I will wait for you, I love you more.”