Life Regains Pulse in Wrecked Kibbutz Be'eri: A Testimony of Pain and Perseverance
- Author: Nico Fried
- Estimated Reading Time: ~4 Minutes
Life is gradually recovering in Kibbutz Be'eri, as visited by Steinmeier - Life is gradually being revived in Kibbutz Be'eri, as Steinmeier visited
Sharon Cohen dons a somber black T-shirt emblazoned with a heart, indicative of her love for Be'eri, marred by pain. At 45, Cohen has called this kibbutz near the Gaza Strip's border home for two and a half decades. That was until October 7, 2023, when Hamas assaulted Be'eri.
Cohen, her spouse, and their four offspring sought refuge in the shelter of their home during the attack. The terrorists viciously attacked, with Cohen's husband valiantly barring the door for 13 harrowing hours. "I thought we wouldn't survive," Cohen recalls. "We penned farewell messages to loved ones."
Remarkably, the design of their house may have spared Cohen and her family. The narrow corridor leading to the shelter prevented the attackers from shooting at the door, as ricocheting bullets could have harmed them. The clarity of her family's fate took 48 hours to settle: Cohen's husband's parents, an aunt, and a cousin perished during the siege.
Federal President Steinmeier Amid the Scars: 130 Lives Lost in Be'eri
Nearly a year and a half post the attack, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits Kibbutz Be'eri once more. During his first visit in November 2023, he still witnessed bloodstains on the walls, the remnants of fires set by the terrorists, destroyed furniture, soot-covered toys, and beds - all vestiges of a shattered existence. "The horror affected us deeply," the Federal President recalls, standing now with Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog before the charred remains of the gallery.
In Be'eri, 101 residents and 31 security personnel perished on October 6. The terrorists kidnapped 32 people and transported them to the Gaza Strip. Yuval Haran, a young man from Be'eri, feared for seven family members. They all emerged unscathed. Unfortunately, others were not so fortunate. Six Be'eri hostages remain unaccounted for. Their photos are displayed in numerous places around the kibbutz, mostly depicting young men. It's known that they are deceased. Now, efforts are underway to recover their bodies.
If one walks through Be'eri today, they witness the foundation of a new community. Over 120 houses have been leveled to the ground, and new ones are being constructed. Included in this rebuilding project is Cohen's house, which the terrorists devastated during the siege. Like many families, the Cohens were temporarily housed in hotels, including those at the Dead Sea. Currently, approximately 700 people from Be'eri reside in 290 emergency shelters established in a settlement near Beer Sheva, south of Tel Aviv.
Cohen's house is not yet complete, but Cohen is not yet prepared to return. She longs to go back to Be'eri, yes, indeed, her family joins her in this desire. Her husband was born here. A sister in Canada offered them refuge, but the two daughters and the two sons, aged 18, 16, 11, and 7, objected. They too wish to return to Be'eri. However, Cohen maintains they cannot return until all hostages are set free.
Yuval Haran also echoes this sentiment, stating, "One cannot live a normal life in a place knowing that just a few kilometers away, our brothers and sisters remain imprisoned." Haran mourned the loss of his father and an aunt on October 7th. Seven other relatives, including children, were kidnapped. They have since been released. "A miracle," Haran declares. As of now, Hamas still holds 58 hostages. Of these, it is known that 20 remain alive, although the fate of several others is uncertain; more than half are believed to have perished.
Be'eri gradually regains its vitality. The printing press of Be'eri, once a vital source of employment, has recommenced operations. Many Israelis commute daily to work, but Palestinians no longer do. In the initial months, the Cohens received assistance from the state. Currently, their aid has diminished. Both are working again, and the children are attending school. "We manage," says the mother.
Germany Aids in Rebuilding with Seven Million Euros
Germany is contributing seven million euros towards rebuilding the burned-out gallery as a cultural center in new architecture. Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, Sören Bartol, has taken a personal interest in this cultural center. During Steinmeier's visit, the winning design of the architectural competition will be unveiled.
Cohen and Haran wear chains adorned with a pendant commemorating the hostages. "Our heart is in Gaza" is inscribed in Hebrew, and again in English: "Bring them home now." Is the government making sufficient strides to free the hostages? Cohen and Haran refrain from directly addressing whether the war waged by the Israeli army against Hamas in the Gaza Strip aids or hinders hostage release efforts. They agree on one point: "The hostages have not been completely released, so we can't say it's enough." Primer Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not held in high regard here due to accusations of insufficient protection of the kibbutz, which facilitated the terrorist attack. Despite this, Netanyahu has yet to visit Be'eri even after more than 19 months.
The future of life in the neighboring Palestinian community remains uncertain to Cohen and Haran. They've yet to plan that far ahead. Does Haran yearn to know the identities of those responsible for his father's death? "It doesn't bring me solace to know the murderers," Haran says. "My life won't improve if I have a mental image of the person I hate most."
- Be'eri
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Hamas
- Gaza Strip
- Kibbutz
- Israel
- Gaza
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
Background:
Efforts to Bring Them Home:
```Efforts to secure the release of the hostages have been complex, involving negotiations and diplomatic pressure. In recent developments, Israel has proposed a deal to Hamas, offering a 42-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of eight of the living Israeli captives. However, this proposal has not yet been accepted by Hamas[3].
The release of Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American captive, in mid-May 2025, after direct talks with the U.S., suggests that diplomatic channels are being explored to facilitate the release of other hostages[3]. Despite these efforts, tensions remain high, with ongoing military operations and humanitarian crises in Gaza complicating the situation.```
International Involvement:
- The Commission has been consulted on the draft resolution concerning the political situation in the Gaza Strip, as it relates to the war-and-conflicts, specifically the tragedy that befell Kibbutz Be'eri in October 2023.
- Despite the ongoing devastation in Kibbutz Be'eri, there are glimmers of hope, such as the resumption of operations at the local printing press and the return of Israelis to work in the region, albeit not Palestinians, showcasing the intertwining of politics and general-news.
- The sports world remains unaffected by the events in Be'eri, yet there is a growing interest in sports-betting, a form of entertainment that can provide a temporary escape from the grimmer aspects of crime-and-justice like the ongoing hostage crisis.
- One cannot help but wonder if the accidents, such as a devastating car-accident or a house fire, would occur more frequently in Be'eri during such times of stress and uncertainty, considering the long hours spent in shelters and the disruption of daily life.
- With the charred remnants of the gallery in Be'eri serving as a stark reminder of the past, one may ponder whether the cultural center, funded by seven million euros from Germany, will serve as a new focal point for the arts, fires, and resilience within this community - a symbol of healing and rejuvenation in the midst of conflicts and painful memories.
