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The Heroic Battle of Kerem Shalom

Simchat Torah 5784 | October 7th, 2023

For Further Reading | Interactive Special Coverage 7.10.360 | The battle minute by minute from the residents' perspective
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Kibbutz Kerem Shalom is the closest Israeli community to the Gaza Strip border – less than a kilometer from the fence. On the Sabbath of Simchat Torah, when dozens of armed terrorists breached the kibbutz, only 14 fighters stood against them. They fought for eight hours without external support – and prevailed.

The only kibbutz in the Gaza Envelope where no civilian was murdered and no one was kidnapped
Timeline

Eight Hours of Heroism

06:30

The Night of Simchat Torah - The Final Moments of Peace

On the night of Simchat Torah, all kibbutz residents – religious and secular together – celebrated with hakafot (ceremonial dances). Moshe Yedidya Raziel stood at the center of the circle and led a powerful singing of "Am Yisrael Chai" (The People of Israel Live) that shook the floor. They didn't know these would be the final moments of tranquility.

At 6:30 AM, red alert sirens sounded throughout the kibbutz. Eliyahu Ben Shimol, the security coordinator, immediately understood that something extraordinary was happening. He ordered all residents to enter their safe rooms immediately.

06:45

The Assembly - "This Is Exactly What We Trained For"

Amichai Witzen didn't hesitate for a moment. He told his family in the safe room: "This is exactly what we trained for in the response team," kissed his wife and five children, and left.

The nine response team members gathered at the familiar meeting point from their drills, together with six Nahal soldiers who reinforced the force. Eliyahu Ben Shimol divided them into pairs.

07:05

The Battle Begins - 14 Against Dozens

At 07:05, the terrorists breached the perimeter fence surrounding the kibbutz. At 07:15, the concrete wall was breached. Approximately 100 terrorists from the Yavneh Battalion in Rafah, armed with grenades, small arms, RPG missiles, and explosives, broke into the kibbutz in attack waves. Only 14 fighters – 9 response team members and 5 Nahal soldiers – stood against them.

"The greatest miracle we had was the manifestation of heroism. The understanding that we were alone and that if we didn't fight for our home – there would be no home."
— Eliyahu Ben Shimol, Security Coordinator
07:40

House-to-House Fighting

The response team was deployed across the entire kibbutz – from the gate to the last houses. Seven terrorists penetrated the line of houses. Ben Shimol and his men charged them and eliminated six. The seventh fled to the center of the community and was eliminated there.

In WhatsApp voice messages that Amichai sent to his wife during the fighting, he sounded calm and composed: "Make sure the children feel good and dance, because today is Simchat Torah. Take out all the snacks from the kitchen for them."

07:15

Heroism Inside the Home - Amichai Schindler

Inside the Schindler family home, Amichai Schindler (may he live a long life) fought with his body to protect his wife and children. When terrorists tried to break into the safe room and placed an explosive on the door, Amichai blocked them with his body. In the explosion, he lost both his hands – but saved his entire family.

"He stood there like a human wall. He didn't let them pass."
10:30

Battle for the Family Home - Amichai and Yedidya Fall

Fighting for a family home that terrorists had taken over. Two response team fighters, Amichai Witzen and Yedidya Raziel, were killed in the battle. The terrorists were eliminated. Response team fighter Yair Wiesner was wounded.

In life and death they were not parted - they grew up together, studied together, built together, fought together, and fell together.

🕯️

Their heroism prevented a mass massacre of kibbutz families.

10:15

The Helicopter Arrives - Turning Point

A combat helicopter was scrambled to the scene. Dozens of terrorists continued to surround the kibbutz. From 09:00, the response team blocked dozens of terrorists trying to enter from the solar farms adjacent to the kibbutz. The helicopter was the turning point.

11:34

Tank Arrives - Beginning of the End

A tank arrived at the kibbutz gate and began patrolling around it. Additional army forces arrived later. The fighting inside the kibbutz continued until evening, as the army cleared it of the last terrorists.

2:00 PM

IDF Forces Arrive - The Kibbutz Was Saved

At 2:00 PM, IDF forces arrived. The evacuation of residents was conducted during the night between October 7th and 8th. Despite eight hours of fighting that passed over the small kibbutz, despite approximately 100 terrorists who tried to breach – no civilian was killed and no one was kidnapped.

The Result: The heroism of the response team fighters plus a handful of soldiers prevented a huge disaster. The price was heavy: two heroes from the response team, Amichai Witzen and Yedidya Raziel, fell defending their home.

"There was a heroic battle here by the Nahal reconnaissance unit, which repelled waves of terrorists in the morning, fighting by the response team alongside the army and air force. The battle ended at 14:00, without hostages or civilian casualties. All this, despite the fact that Kerem Shalom is a kibbutz adjacent to the border, and perhaps precisely because of that."

The History

Kerem Shalom - The Story of the Kibbutz

From the Beginning to Today

Kibbutz Kerem Shalom was established in June 1956, named after Avshalom Feinberg, a member of NILI, who was killed not far from there. The kibbutz is located at the most strategic point in the country – at the tri-border point between Israel, Gaza, and Egypt.

Over the years, the kibbutz went through many crises. In 2017, when it was on the verge of closure, a core group of young religious families arrived and saved it. Among them were the Witzen and Raziel families – who grew up together in Psagot, studied together, and came to Kerem Shalom together as part of their Zionist mission.

A United Community

Today, Kerem Shalom is a unique mixed kibbutz – one-third religious and two-thirds secular – living together in harmony. This unity, built over years, is what stood the test on October 7th.

"The trust built over the years between all residents, the connection forged between members of different groups, proved itself and gave strength to follow instructions and save lives."

Coming Home

After October 7th, residents were evacuated to Eilat, and later to Eshelim. But their hearts remained in Kerem Shalom. Today, the community is slowly beginning to return home – out of love, mission, and a deep sense of connection to the place.

The Fighters

Kerem Shalom's Response Team

Eliyahu Ben Shimol

Eliyahu Ben Shimol

Kerem Shalom Security Coordinator

Eliyahu Ben Shimol, the security coordinator who grew up in Golani, understood within seconds that Kerem Shalom was facing an existential test. Age 31, from Rosh Pina, he arrived at Kerem Shalom in the summer of 2009. Under heavy fire, he divided the nine team members and soldiers into pairs and managed the battle calmly, jumping between positions and covering his comrades. In September 2023, a month before the attack, he was declared the Gaza Division's outstanding performer.

"The physical wall was breached, but the human wall – our fighters – remained standing."
9 Response Team Members
5 Nahal Soldiers
8 Hours of Battle
~100 Terrorists Stopped

The Story Continues

We're returning to Kerem Shalom, returning home, returning to our mission. Help us continue to guard the frontline.

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