Israel Commits $100 Million to Rebuild Devastated Kibbutz Be’eri

Kibbutz Be’eri is set to receive nearly $100 million for rebuilding efforts, the largest sum allocated to any of the Gaza border communities devastated by Hamas terrorists on October 7, Ynet reported on Monday. This funding is part of the Tkuma (Revival in Hebrew) Directorate, established to oversee the reconstruction of southern Israeli communities impacted by the attack. The directorate plans to deliver the final building plans to Jerusalem in two months.

“We learned by seeing other disaster aftermaths across the world to treat this like an opportunity,” the directorate said in a statement. “The neighborhoods damaged in Be’eri are very old, with some of the [original] planning no longer being fit for the community’s needs. Other disasters showed that reconstruction is inadequate if members of the community aren’t involved in it.”

On October 7, nearly 350 Hamas terrorists, including 100 members of the group’s elite Nukhba Force, infiltrated Be’eri due to catastrophic failures by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as revealed by the first part of the IDF’s internal probe into the attacks. The investigation reported that Hamas killed 101 civilians and kidnapped 32 people from Be’eri, 11 of whom remain hostages in Gaza. The probe credited the local armed response team with “determination and courage,” noting that their bravery prevented the total occupation of the kibbutz and saved many lives.

The Israeli military also praised Be’eri’s emergency team for forming an updated situational picture and maintaining contact with residents under fire. Israeli soldiers and armed response team members acted with great bravery and ferocity, with 31 soldiers killed in combat, including 23 IDF members and 8 police officers, while many soldiers and civilians were injured. Around 100 terrorists were killed in the kibbutz, according to the investigation.

The report concluded that the IDF was not prepared for the extensive infiltration scenario that occurred on October 7, which included multiple infiltration points by thousands of terrorists attacking simultaneously.

Doron Segev, an architect from the kibbutz, mentioned that some members do not want to erect a memorial in the community. Some prefer the damaged homes to become memorials, while others want to return to their homes, even if they are damaged. The fund will include the construction of a new neighborhood for those who do not wish to return to their original homes.

“Most of the kibbutz members didn’t want to return to their previous home nor fix it because of their memories of it. It’s clear we won’t be able to undo what was done, but we’ll have to include memorials in a delicate manner according to the members’ wishes,” said Segev.

This funding initiative underscores Israel’s commitment to rebuilding and supporting the communities affected by the devastating attack, ensuring that the residents of Be’eri can restore their lives and homes with dignity and resilience.

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