Kibbutz in the Aftermath of the Hamas Attack
The kibbutz is located just a few kilometers from the Gaza Strip and was one of several communities targeted when the Hamas terrorist organization launched a coordinated attack on Israel last Saturday.
Hundreds of people were killed, and many were taken hostage.
Now, one week later, the area is closed off, and instead of residents, there are only soldiers on site. On Saturday, SVT’s Middle East correspondent Samir Abu Eid and photographer Pablo Torres were granted access to the kibbutz.
”It feels very eerie to be here knowing that so many people were killed,” says Samir Abu Eid.
Libby Weiss, a major in the Israeli army, describes Hamas’ actions as ”horrific.”
”I can imagine what a beautiful, peaceful place this used to be. But I can also imagine the terror that the people here experienced,” she says.
The Hamas militants had ”a variety of weapons” with them when they launched the attack.
”They used hand grenades and rocket launchers. They poured gasoline over the houses and set them on fire, and then waited for those in the shelters to come out before they shot them,” says Libby Weiss.
The retaliation from Israel against Hamas has been extensive. They have been shelling the Gaza Strip for the past week, and a ground invasion is likely next.
So far, over 2,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. Libby Weiss believes that Hamas bears ultimate responsibility for the escalation of events.
”We warn the population there. We tell them to evacuate the areas that can be targeted,” she says.
”Of course, we must respond. We must ensure that Hamas can never do this again.”
