The Aftermath

On the morning of October 7^th, at 6:30am, Kibbutz Be’eri was struck by a devastating tragedy. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists invaded the community, unleashing a wave of unimaginable horror. At least 130 members of the community had been brutally murdered. This horrific event claimed the lives of women, children, toddlers, and even an infant, amounting to 10% of the farming community’s residents. Hamas sparked the war in Gaza by staging the deadliest-ever attack on Israel. Around 7,000 Hamas terrorists who invaded Israeli territory murdered 1,182 people, wounded over 4,000, and abducted 251 individuals—210 of whom were taken alive, while 41 were corpses seized by the attackers. “It was the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and the most significant terrorist attack ever relative to a population size—one out of every 10,000 Israelis was killed. In total, it ranks as the third-largest terrorist attack in history.

Established in 1946, Kibbutz Be’eri was well-known for its pro-peace sympathies. It had a special fund to provide financial help to Gazans who came to the kibbutz on work permits. Additionally, kibbutzniks would often volunteer to drive sick Palestinians to an oncology centre in southern Israel.

Fire and gunfire destroyed thirty percent of the homes, leaving behind tales of survival marked by horror, abandonment, helplessness, and enduring pain. After capturing the kibbutz, the terrorists went from house to house, shooting or capturing residents while setting buildings on fire. They were accompanied by a camera team and a journalist who documented the attack and extolled it as a Palestinian victory. Many residents tried to hide in shelter safe rooms, but the attackers blew up the doors and killed everyone inside.

Palestinian militants kidnapped 251 hostages during the attack. As of January 2025, 94 of whom are still being held in Gaza. Nine members of the kibbutz were kidnapped, five of whom have since died in captivity.

The kibbutz, which is currently a closed military zone, off-limits to the public. Created on February 7th, exactly four months after the horrific attack, this series of documentary photographs has a significant historical value. In an era rife with disinformation, fake news and AI manipulated imagery, these photos serve as a silent testament to that horrific attack.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza Iron Swords has killed almost 47,000 people.

Click here to view the brilliant opening address by Juliet Moses.

Click here to view The Aftermath book

Kibbutz Be’eri was established on October 6, 1946, during the final years of the British Mandate. It played a significant role in the founding of Israel and was one of the 11 strategic points in the Negev, created to help form Israel’s future border. Members of the Haganah, the Jewish paramilitary organization, founded it with the goal of establishing a Jewish settlement in the area. Named after Yosef Be’eri, a prominent Zionist leader killed in a skirmish with Arab forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the kibbutz was founded by members of the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed movement, Hebrew scouts, and a group of Iraqi Jews who had survived the Farhud. Initially, it was a small agricultural community focused on farming and raising livestock. The early settlers faced isolation at their initial location near Wadi Nahabir but persevered through land reclamation and tree planting. By 1947, Be’eri had a population of over 150. After Israeli independence, the kibbutz relocated three kilometers southeast to its present location. Be’eri became known as one of Israel’s wealthiest kibbutzim. Unlike many others, it retained the old cooperative model, resisting privatization. Its main source of income was the Be’eri print business, with an annual turnover of hundreds of millions of shekels. The kibbutz also cultivated jojoba for the cosmetics industry and operated a boutique dairy producing premium handmade cheese. Known for its pro-peace sympathies, the kibbutz maintained good relations with Gazans, offering financial assistance to those with work permits and volunteering to drive sick Palestinians to medical centers in southern Israel. Throughout its history, Be’eri faced challenges, including Qassam rocket attacks during the Second Intifada. Despite this, the community remained committed to its founding principles, sharing meals in a communal dining hall and caring for each other like a large family. In the years leading up to the October 7 attack, Kibbutz Be’eri experienced tensions with neighboring Arab villages due to the larger conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as competition for land and resources. Despite these tensions, Kibbutz Be’eri continued to thrive and grow, with new members joining and expanding its agricultural operations. It also became known for its commitment to socialist ideals and communal living. As of late 2024, Kibbutz Be’eri is gradually recovering from the devastating October 7th attack. Although the scars of the attack remain, the kibbutz has shown resilience and continued to prosper. About 200 out of approximately 1,100 survivors have returned to Be’eri, with plans to have 80-90% of residents back by the end of 2026. A new neighborhood with 52 homes is in the works, and the kibbutz’s printing house resumed operations just a week after the attack. Temporary accommodations at Kibbutz Hatzerim are housing many Be’eri survivors as they work towards rebuilding their community. There is still ongoing trauma within the community, with some residents hesitant to leave safe rooms and reburial ceremonies adding to the grief. Debates are ongoing about whether to preserve or demolish damaged homes as a memorial. While some residents feel safe to return, others still feel insecure. Despite the challenges, the kibbutz is focusing on rebuilding its economic base to aid in the recovery of the entire Gaza envelope region. Through determination and effort, the community is working towards rebuilding and maintaining their home in the face of adversity.