The Kibbutz Be’eri, located in the Southern District of Israel, has always been a testament to the resilience and determination of the Israeli people. However, the once peaceful settlement near the Gaza Strip has gradually become a symbol of the brutality of Hamas, a Palestinian militant group. Emotional scars run deep among the survivors, yet a number of them are resolved to return, despite the harrowing experiences they have endured.
Situated on the edge of the Negev Desert, Kibbutz Be’eri was established in 1946 as a part of the Tower and Stockade movement in reaction to the increasing tension in the Palestinian territory. Drawing its name from Beeri, the father of the prophet Hosea, the Kibbutz has been a true embodiment of communal living and Zionist ideals.
In recent years, however, the community has been scarred by the horrors of numerous attacks by the militant group, Hamas. The once serene landscapes of the Kibbutz have been transformed into ground zero for mortar fire and missile attacks. Hamas’ brutality quite explicitly manifests in these attacks that show no regard for the lives and well-being of innocent civilians.
The Kibbutz suffered its most devastating blow when a rocket attack launched by Hamas from across the Gaza border hit the place in 2014. The residents, men, women, and children, had a mere 15 seconds to seek shelter after the sirens went off. Those tragic seconds witnessed loss, fear, tears, and an unquantifiable amount of physical and emotional destruction.
Amidst the rubble and remnants of lives lived, stories of survival emerged. Men and women, crippled by the loss of their companions and children, expressed a deep-seated desire to rebuild—their homes, their lives, and their community.
One survivor, a woman named Miriam, who saw her home demolished by the missile, spoke about her determination to return. Kibbutz Be’eri is my home. It’s where I grew up, where my children were born, she claimed. Returning and rebuilding is not a matter of choice, it’s an act of defiance against those who seek to displace us.
The communal spirit of the people at Kibbutz Be’eri has not been defeated. On the contrary, the numerous attacks have only served to strengthen their resolve. They tirelessly work together to rebuild their community, to revamp their homes, and to rejuvenate their spirits. Their defiance and determination are a direct challenge to Hamas’ attempts to instill fear and control over them.
The experiences of Kibbutz Be’eri and its notable resistance against Hamas stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Israeli people. The stories of destruction, survival, and resilience from this community project an intense narrative of bravery, an account that demands global attention.
In the face of tremendous adversity, Kibbutz Be’eri has become an emblem of the shocking cruelty of Hamas towards civilians. But it has also come to represent the unconquerable spirit of its survivors, who, refusing to be victims, choose instead to stand strong, rebuild, and defiantly reclaim their homes. The journey has not been easy, nor is it over, but the people of Kibbutz Be’eri stand resolute, their determination and resilience unbroken.
