After having been interned in a concentration camp by the Nazis, Professor Taumen, a Jewish surgeon, and his future daughter-in-law leave Italy for Palestine. Once there they are guided by Arie', a member of the Haganah. In Palestine, the extremist Jews of the Irgoun wage a ruthless guerrilla against the British. One of the most active anti-English activists is David Traumen, the professor's own son, engaged to Dina. David now lives with Judith, another fanatic, devoted body and soul to the independence of the future Israel. Informed about the coming of his father, whom he did not hope to see any more, David meets him at the kibbutz housing the refugees. The unexpected presence of Dina upsets him beyond words. He also finds back Arie', with whom he fought in the Allied Army but he soon finds himself quarreling with him : one supports the moderate principles of the Haganah whereas the other advocates terrorism. In the meantime, an English detachment on hunt for the illegal immigrants surrounds the kibbutz. The surgeon and Dina manage to escape but the following day David, who has perpetrated an attack against the British headquarter, is taken prisoner. In reprisal, the men of his group capture George Birkmore, an English lieutenant who happens to have been another brother-in-arms of David and Arie'. Both men are executed. Work resumes at the kibbutz but Arie', Taumen and Dina feel helpless and grieved...