'We are officially hostages.' How the Israeli kibbutz of Nir Oz embodied Hamas hostage strategy

The recent release of dozens of Israeli hostages is bringing new focus on Hamas rampage through the kibbutz of Nir Oz. In Nir Oz, Palestinian fighters roamed unopposed for hours. By the time Israeli soldiers arrived, the militants were gone and they'd taken some 80 residents hostage — about a fifth of the community's population. A review of hundreds of messages among Nir Oz residents shared exclusively with The Associated Press, direct interviews with 17 and accounts from many more, security camera footage and Hamas’ own instructions manuals suggests that the group planned well ahead of time to target civilians. Experts in hostage situations said Hamas’ actions indicated a plan to seize civilians to prepare for the war to come.