Four Months After the Devastating Oct. 7th Massacre, Communities are Starting to Rebuild

Nearly 10% of the kibbutz residents were murdered on Oct. 7th.

By JNS

The rebuilding of Kibbutz Be’eri began on Thursday morning, four months and a day after Hamas terrorists murdered more than a hundred of its members on Oct. 7.

One hundred twenty of the community’s 350 houses are slated for demolition. Six destroyed houses will be removed in the first phase.

In addition, dozens of houses and public buildings need renovation after suffering various levels of damage during the attack.

Around 70 Hamas terrorists invaded the farming community near the Gaza Strip on the morning of Oct. 7, murdering 130 people—some 10% of the kibbutz’s 1,200 residents—including women and children, and burning down many homes. Dozens of hostages were also taken from Be’eri.

Gazan terrorists and residents murdered some 1,200 people overall, mostly civilians, wounded thousands more and kidnapped 253 people. Mass looting and destruction followed the rapes, torture, mutilation and murder.

The victims of the brutal attack included three generations of one family: A 73-year-old woman, her 43-year-old son and her barely 10-month-old granddaughter.

Be’eri announced on Thursday that its member, Meni Godard, missing since Oct. 7, was murdered during the Hamas attack and his body is being held by the terrorist group in Gaza. Godard’s wife, Ayelet, was also murdered when terrorists stormed their home.

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The family of Meni Godard from Kibbutz Be'eri, who was murdered on October 7, was informed that his body is being held by the murderous terrorists in Gaza 💔

Godard is the 31st murdered victim whose body is held captive by Hamas.

Never forget🕯 pic.twitter.com/K3QsM3tkhy

— Adam Albilya – אדם אלביליה (@AdamAlbilya) February 8, 2024

The couple left behind four children—Mor, Gal, Bar and Goni—and six grandchildren.

“Meni moved to Kibbutz Be’eri when he was 13 years old. Throughout his life, he worked in several different positions on the kibbutz, and worked as a printer at the Be’eri printing house, managed the kibbutz’s department store and pool, also worked as the chief economist, and at the same time was a player and coach of the local soccer team,” the Be’eri announcement said.

“His children said that he was the most devoted and loving father and grandfather, a family man who took care of everyone around him, a man of the sea and love, and an ardent fan of Hapoel Tel Aviv.”

His death brings to six the number of hostages from Be’eri murdered, while five hostages are believed to be alive.