Gaza Border Kibbutz Combat Footage Released Three Years After Attack

A fighter from the Alfei Menashe rapid response team, who joined the battle in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7, 2023, has released new, dramatic footage from the intense fighting. Yossi Adib, a member of the Alfei Menashe team, was initially called to check on residents but later joined the fight, linking up with the 890th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade and fighting until nightfall.

Adib served nine months in reserve duty following the initial attack, grappling with feelings of guilt over those he couldn't save. The article recounts the Hamas and Islamic Jihad attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, where approximately 340 terrorists breached the border fence. They systematically murdered residents, set homes ablaze, and took dozens hostage, documenting their atrocities. Be'eri became one of the most devastating sites of that day.

In the critical early hours, kibbutz residents and armed members of the rapid response team fought fiercely against the overwhelming forces. Due to the collapse of Gaza Division command and defense systems, initial IDF forces were small and faced ambushes. Significant reinforcements from special units only arrived later in the afternoon. The battle to clear the kibbutz lasted two days, involving complex events like the hostage situation at Pesi Cohen's home.

The aftermath revealed the horrific scale of the disaster: 101 civilians were murdered, and 31 security personnel, police officers, and rapid response team members were killed. Additionally, 30 kibbutz residents and two other civilians were brutally abducted to Gaza. The kibbutz, having lost about a tenth of its residents, was evacuated from its destroyed homes. The community is now engaged in a long rehabilitation process, including temporary housing and plans for rebuilding.