The Gaza Envelope Communities Are Trying to Return to Normal and Remain Optimistic: “The Residents Will Return”
In Be’eri, the printing house is operating again, and in Ein HaShlosha, agriculture returned to activity. "I believe that most of the residents will return," says Gilad Altman, Ein HaShlosha kibbutz coordinator
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 06/11/2023
Since the day of the massacre, on October 7, 2023, Gaza-envelope kibbutzim (those immediately around Gaza) have been trying to return to normalcy as much as possible despite their members being evacuated to hotels in other parts of Israel.
In most kibbutzim, there are small teams of volunteers and members who manage the field crops, dairy farms, industrial plants, etc. The well-known printing house In Be’eri is also back up.
One of the kibbutzim, located very close to the Gaza border, is Ein HaShlosha, which returned to operating its manufacturing branches only three days after the massacre. The kibbutz is located a few hundred meters from the Gaza border. On October 7th, terrorists entered it and slaughtered residents. Survivors were evacuated.
"The residents were evacuated to Eilat. We left a standby platoon and a few soldiers who came to the kibbutz," explains the kibbutz coordinator, Gilad Altman, in an interview with IsraelDefense. "One of the dilemmas we faced was operating the dairy barn. The cows must be fed and milked 2-3 times daily. This is impossible without people, something which led to tremendous economic damage.
"After much deliberation, due to the security situation in the area, we decided to evacuate the on-call defense team as well. But three days after the massacre, we returned to the kibbutz. About eight to ten workers are needed to operate the barn; today, we are at about three milkings daily – thanks to farm members and volunteers from other kibbutzim in Israel.
"Now, milk tankers come to take the milk, and the cows' feed trucks also come. This is all under military escort. Overall, the return of the barn to activity was made possible with help from the army, the dairy council, and the Eshkol regional council."
Next to the dairy barn, Ein HaShlosha grows field crops, the largest of the kibbutz branches. Security approval was received in the last few days to process some of the areas. "About two-thirds of our agricultural areas face west, between the kibbutz and the perimeter fence [of Gaza]. Those are not authorized to be processed at this stage," explains Altman. "Another third faces east, with no line of sight to Gaza. We started to process this third after receiving security clearance to do so.
"Right now, the area is being prepared for sowing wheat, potatoes, carrots, and more. Before sowing, several things need to be done, such as fertilizing, watering, weeding, etc. Those activities are carried out without the need for a military escort. In addition to agriculture, the factory resumed operation two weeks ago.”
Will the residents return?
The residents of the Gaza envelope communities are scattered among hotels in Eilat, the Dead Sea, and Israel’s central region. At this stage of the war, they are expected to return no sooner than the end of December, two months from today. "You have to be precise. Kibbutz members were given the option to stay in hotels until the end of December," explains Altman.
What is the mindset of the community? Will people return to the kibbutz?
"In my opinion, yes. Most residents will return; there are a few with question marks. Even so, when we reach a situation where there is complete security for the residents and children, they may change their minds and stay with us," he says.
"From a defense point of view, we want and expect security and peace for a long time. No rockets, no mortar bombs, no terrorist infiltrations. Not just quiet for two weeks or two months before a return to violence. We want a long silence that will allow a return to the kibbutz, agriculture, industry, and community life. Israel’s security system needs to guarantee this to us.
"The kibbutzim in the region make a living from agriculture, guarding the state's lands and borders. In the last few days, in Ein HaShlosha, we returned the Israeli flag to the top of the silo (where grain is stored). Soon, all the kibbutzim in here will do the same. In my vision, I also see Ein HaShlosha growing and even doubling the number of residents in its future.”
In Be’eri, the printing house is operating again, and in Ein HaShlosha, agriculture returned to activity. "I believe that most of the residents will return," says Gilad Altman, Ein HaShlosha kibbutz coordinator
Since the day of the massacre, on October 7, 2023, Gaza-envelope kibbutzim (those immediately around Gaza) have been trying to return to normalcy as much as possible despite their members being evacuated to hotels in other parts of Israel.
In most kibbutzim, there are small teams of volunteers and members who manage the field crops, dairy farms, industrial plants, etc. The well-known printing house In Be’eri is also back up.
One of the kibbutzim, located very close to the Gaza border, is Ein HaShlosha, which returned to operating its manufacturing branches only three days after the massacre. The kibbutz is located a few hundred meters from the Gaza border. On October 7th, terrorists entered it and slaughtered residents. Survivors were evacuated.
"The residents were evacuated to Eilat. We left a standby platoon and a few soldiers who came to the kibbutz," explains the kibbutz coordinator, Gilad Altman, in an interview with IsraelDefense. "One of the dilemmas we faced was operating the dairy barn. The cows must be fed and milked 2-3 times daily. This is impossible without people, something which led to tremendous economic damage.
"After much deliberation, due to the security situation in the area, we decided to evacuate the on-call defense team as well. But three days after the massacre, we returned to the kibbutz. About eight to ten workers are needed to operate the barn; today, we are at about three milkings daily – thanks to farm members and volunteers from other kibbutzim in Israel.
"Now, milk tankers come to take the milk, and the cows' feed trucks also come. This is all under military escort. Overall, the return of the barn to activity was made possible with help from the army, the dairy council, and the Eshkol regional council."
Next to the dairy barn, Ein HaShlosha grows field crops, the largest of the kibbutz branches. Security approval was received in the last few days to process some of the areas. "About two-thirds of our agricultural areas face west, between the kibbutz and the perimeter fence [of Gaza]. Those are not authorized to be processed at this stage," explains Altman. "Another third faces east, with no line of sight to Gaza. We started to process this third after receiving security clearance to do so.
"Right now, the area is being prepared for sowing wheat, potatoes, carrots, and more. Before sowing, several things need to be done, such as fertilizing, watering, weeding, etc. Those activities are carried out without the need for a military escort. In addition to agriculture, the factory resumed operation two weeks ago.”
Will the residents return?
The residents of the Gaza envelope communities are scattered among hotels in Eilat, the Dead Sea, and Israel’s central region. At this stage of the war, they are expected to return no sooner than the end of December, two months from today. "You have to be precise. Kibbutz members were given the option to stay in hotels until the end of December," explains Altman.
What is the mindset of the community? Will people return to the kibbutz?
"In my opinion, yes. Most residents will return; there are a few with question marks. Even so, when we reach a situation where there is complete security for the residents and children, they may change their minds and stay with us," he says.
"From a defense point of view, we want and expect security and peace for a long time. No rockets, no mortar bombs, no terrorist infiltrations. Not just quiet for two weeks or two months before a return to violence. We want a long silence that will allow a return to the kibbutz, agriculture, industry, and community life. Israel’s security system needs to guarantee this to us.
"The kibbutzim in the region make a living from agriculture, guarding the state's lands and borders. In the last few days, in Ein HaShlosha, we returned the Israeli flag to the top of the silo (where grain is stored). Soon, all the kibbutzim in here will do the same. In my vision, I also see Ein HaShlosha growing and even doubling the number of residents in its future.”
