The Aftermath
On October 7, 2023, Kibbutz Be’eri was struck by a devastating tragedy. This documentary Read More…
Click here to view the brilliant opening address by Juliet Moses.
Kibbutz Be'eri
On the morning of Saturday, October 7, 2023, Kibbutz Be’eri was struck by a devastating tragedy. Hundreds of Hamas fighters invaded the community, unleashing a wave of unimaginable horror. As of February 27, 2024, ninety-three 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.
Fire and gunfire destroyed thirty percent of Be’eri’s homes, leaving behind tales of survival marked by horror, abandonment, helplessness, and enduring pain.
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, members of the kibbutz would often volunteer to drive sick Palestinians to an oncology center in southern Israel.
The terrorists entered the kibbutz on motorcycles and in vehicles. The kibbutz’s 10-member security team fought the attackers but was overwhelmed by their sheer number and firepower. After capturing the kibbutz, the attackers 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 safe rooms, which are designed to shelter from rocket attacks and bombs, but the attackers blew up the doors and massacred everyone inside.
Nine members were taken into the Gaza Strip, four of whom have since died in captivity. Videos have emerged showing the hostages being led barefoot in a victory parade across Gaza. 134 Israelis are still held hostage, their fate uncertain.
These documentary photos serve as a silent testament to that attack.
On the morning of October 7th, 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.
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.
Nine members of the kibbutz were taken into the Gaza Strip, five of whom have since died in captivity. 120 Israelis are still held hostage, their fate uncertain.
I was fortunate to gain access to 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 documentary photos serve as a silent testament to that horrific attack.
Click here to view the brilliant opening address by Juliet Moses.
