Ivanka Trump Breaks Silence On Israel Trip After Visiting Kibbutz In Bulletproof Vest

Former first daughter, Ivanka Trump, recently shared her thoughts on her tour of an Israeli Kibbutz, which was left destroyed by the Hamas attack.

Ivanka donned a bulletproof vest alongside her husband, Jared Kushner, as they were guided through the ruins of the area and also got to speak with residents forced to flee due to the violent incident.

Speaking on her trip, she noted that her heart was "filled with a mix of sorrow and hope."

The businesswoman and her husband, Kushner, both wearing bulletproof vests, were photographed being ushered around Kfar Aza, a southern kibbutz that witnessed a violent attack by Hamas. On October 7, Hamas militants broke through the border fence, allegedly killing over fifty civilians and capturing numerous others.

Ivanka, taking to social media, shared a statement regarding her visit to the Israeli Kibbutz, noting that she was disheartened by what she saw.

"As I depart from Israel, my heart fills with a mix of sorrow and hope," Ivanka started. "Witnessing the aftermath of the October 7th terrorist attack, I heard heart-wrenching stories from victims, families, soldiers and first responders."

She continued, "Their strength amid the despair was profoundly moving and the resolve of this [sic] resilient and tough people reminds us that even in the darkest times, hope and goodness are ever-present."

"As so many rise to help, heal and rebuild, it's a testament to the enduring spirit of humanity," Ivanka concluded.

She then proceeded to share photos from her trip, which saw her and her husband decked out in bulletproof vests. Ivanka wore a white button-down blouse underneath her vest and green trousers, while Kushner wore a brown top underneath his vest along with khaki pants.

In one photo on her IG stories, she could be seen praying at the Western wall. Ivanka captioned the image, "Praying for the safe return of all hostages and for the healing of each victim and their families. #nohostageleftbehind."

During their visit, Ivanka and Kushner got to hear stories from local residents who were forced to flee during the violent incident.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the couple "heard testimonies from residents who lived in the community up until the Hamas attack" and from "border Police and IDF soldiers who were among those to help save lives and eliminate the infiltrating Hamas terrorists during their cross-border massacre."

According to the publication, one of the former residents, Chen Kotler, told Ivanka and Kushner, "In this Kibbutz, there were 64 people murdered, 19 were kidnapped, numerous wounded. But the most important thing is that five are still hostages in captivity in Gaza."

Kotler reportedly gifted Ivanka and Kushner a dog tag with the wording, "Kfar Aza is my home," and said to the couple, "Hopefully, one day, I can host you in my home."

"Thank you for sharing your stories with us. I just have to say it's very humbling for me to be with you, with the heroic acts that you did," Kushner reportedly said during his trip. "What you did had made a massive difference."

Ivanka was among several celebrities who took to social media to share their sadness over the October 7 event that shocked the world. 

At the time, she wrote via her Instagram stories, "Love and prayers for the people of Israel," along with a photo of the flag of Israel. Ivanka converted to Judaism after marrying Kushner, who is reportedly an Orthodox Jew, in 2009.

The mother of three previously posted a brief prayer for the safe return of the Hamas hostages while preparing for Shabbat. She wrote, "In preparation for Shabbat, I gathered with friends in the community to bake challah and pray for the safe return of the hostages captured by Hamas and the strength and protection of the innocent people who are suffering so greatly."

Accompanying Ivanka's prayer message was a photo of challah being made in preparation for Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. Challah is a unique bread of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is usually made to have a braided pattern and is eaten on special ceremonial occasions and Jewish holidays.