A delegation of university provosts from across Israel visited the site of the October 7th massacre at Kibbutz Be'eri on Thursday.
The delegation included Bar-Ilan University Prof. Amnon Albeck, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Prof. Chaim Hames, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Tamir Sheafer, Tel Aviv University Prof. Mark Staif, and Open University Prof. Guy Miron.
"Nearly one month since the massacre, it still hurts to enter the burnt and destroyed homes of Kibbutz Be'eri, to smell the stench, to discover the remains of personal belongings, and a baby's bed full of bloodstains,” the delegation said in a joint statement.
130 civilians were murdered by Hamas in the kibbutz during the October 7 massacre, while homes were ravaged and an eerie energy filled the air of what was once a bustling kibbutz full of young, vibrant families.
“We spoke to someone standing in front of his mother's burnt house, and his mother is still missing. What can you say to soothe his pain?” the statement somberly declared.
Hope amid the horror
Amid the horrorous scenes at Kibbutz Be’eri, which has been evacuated amid Operation Swords of Iron, the university provosts noticed a ray of light and hope – an IDF officer and her parents were cleaning out their burnt home from the debris and destruction and getting ready to repair the damage.
Even after the trauma they endured, residents of Kibbutz Be’eri look forward to returning and living their lives on their kibbutz after the war ends.