Relief Echoes in Be'eri
Ron Leshem penned down his relief after the release of several hostages from their kibbutz, Be'eri. Leshem, a relative to some of the hostages, had previously shared their names with ntv.
The community of Be'eri was filled with a profound sense of relief. Among the twelve released hostages, six hailed from one family: three-year-old Yuli Shoham, her eight-year-old brother Naveh, their mother Adi Shoham, Shoshan Haran, aged 67, and Sharon Avigdori along with her twelve-year-old daughter, Noam. They had been visiting their family in the kibbutz at the time of the attack.
In an earlier interview, Shira Havron had spoken to ntv about her family. Both Shoshan and Adi Shoham, along with their children Yuli and Naveh, are German citizens. Their father, Tal Shoham, still remains a hostage in the hands of Hamas. The Havron family had suffered a significant loss on October 7 – they lost three of their family members during the attack. The youngest film student had campaigned for the release of her family members, lobbying the EU in Brussels and the German government in Berlin. Her special connection to Be'eri kibbutz stemmed from her grandparents Avraham and Rina Havron, who had founded the agricultural community.
Be'eri was a paradise, according to Ron Leshem. He fondly recalled that the kibbutz was 96% serene and peaceful, characterized by a full commitment to social justice. However, the area was under a constant barrage of rocket attacks, which made it a 4% 'hell'. Leshem and his family were progressive, privileging peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Tragedy struck close to home as he lost his aunt and uncle in the massacre.
Leshem expressed his gratitude towards the release of Yuli, Naveh, and the others. However, he was saddened that some children had to leave their parents behind. Among the children, only thirteen-year-old Hila Rotem Shoshani returned home, while her mother and siblings remained captives. Her father was still held in captivity, while her mother had lost her life in the massacre. Leshem expressed his concerns for the remaining hostages, including the men.
Following the eruption of the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza Strip once again plunged into bitter conflict and tension. The release of the hostages from Be'eri, including Yuli Shoham and her family, brought a wave of relief to the community, yet left others, like Hila Rotem Shoshani, still in the clutches of uncertainty, yearning for their loved ones' return.
References
- ntv interview with Ron Leshem, undated.
