Oz VeGaon (file)
Oz VeGaon (file)Flash90

For Israeli Independence Day last Thursday hundreds of Jews braved the unseasonably cold and at times stormy weather to celebrate at the Oz VeGaon outpost community in Judea, which was established last July in memory of the three teens murdered by Hamas terrorists.

At the event, meant to reinforce the Jewish presence at the site in the Gush Etzion region of Judea, children enjoyed workshops and a petting zoo, while the traditional barbecues were blazing and a festive air reigned.

Oz VeGaon was established by Women in Green when it was learned that the three abducted youths - Gilad Sha'ar (16), Naftali Frenkel (16) and Eyal Yifrah (19) - had been murdered, following an intense 18 day search mission attempting to rescue them.

The three were abducted by Hamas terrorists, and the search ended when their bodies were found semi-buried in a field near Hevron.

The first initials of the youths – Gilad, Eyal and Naftali – are eternalized in the name Oz VeGaon, which means strength and pride.