The Aftermath Registration Form

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.

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.

This exhibition was generously sponsored by Auckland Hebrew Community Board and by New Zealand Friends of Israel Association.