Residents of Kibbutz Destroyed in October 7 Attacks Face Rebuilding Dilemma

Residents of a kibbutz destroyed during the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, face a difficult question over how to rebuild their community.

The destruction has left the kibbutz confronting the future of a place that was once home, with reconstruction inseparable from the trauma of the attacks.

About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during the attacks, after an estimated 6,000 Palestinians crossed into southern Israel from Gaza.

For the residents, the dilemma extends beyond replacing damaged buildings. It concerns whether and how a community devastated by the attacks can be restored.