About Kerem Shalom

Kibbutz Kerem Shalom is located in the southern edge of the Eshkol Regional Council, along the Gaza-Israel-Egypt border, and represents a symbol of building and settlement due its location. The young kibbutz has a mix of secular and religious Jews and has about 47 families, including approximately 100 children.

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Until October 7, Kerem Shalom had development momentum and communal growth. It worked in close cooperation with several government ministries, the Regional Council and the Kibbutz Movement. The main sources of income for the kibbutz were agricultural-based, such as crops, chicken coops and a solar farm, as well as members’ work across the Council and Southern Israel. The kibbutz is a revitalizing kibbutz that is open to accepting new members – both secular and religious.

What happened in Kerem Shalom on October 7, 2023 is best described in a letter from a Kibbutz Kerem Shalom member.

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The heroic battle in Kerem Shalom

In memory of the late Amichai Israel Witzen and Yedidia Raziel Rosenberg

Simchat Torah in Kerem Shalom began with joint celebrations by all the residents, both secular and religious. In addition to the members of the kibbutz, guests came from all over the country.
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The prayers and dancing went on as usual and in one of the laps Moshe Yedidia Raziel stood in the center of the circle and began to lead a tremendous singing of the song "Am Yisrael Chai" which shook the floor and included high jumps as is the best tradition.

At the end of the dances, everyone went to their homes for a holiday meal in anticipation of the next day's festivities.

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At 6:30 in the morning, red alarms sounded throughout the kibbutz and the members of the standby squad began to gather at the familiar place from the drills. Amichai Yisrael Witzen did not hesitate for a moment and told those present in the house "that's exactly why we trained in the emergency room." The nine members of the standby unit were prepared for deployment in the kibbutz along with six more soldiers who would increase the strength.
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Immediately after the gathering, Eliya Ben Shimol, the security coordinator of Kerem Shalom, divided the force into pairs, where their friends and Amichai formed an organic pair. Dozens of terrorists who crossed the fence in the Kerem Shalom crossing area broke into the kibbutz and began to fight fiercely with members of the security alert group.
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Kerem Shalom is built of single-family houses spread over a relatively large area and includes about 35 occupied houses. The defense formation was deployed from the entrance gate until the last stanza.
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During the first hours of the fighting, members of the standby squad eliminated a large number of terrorists. The battles lasted 6 hours without assistance except for the force that included 15 fighters.
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In one of the encounters near the home of our yedidya Raziel, his wife and children heard intense exchanges of fire between Amichai and yedidya and the terrorists. After a few minutes there was silence and yedidya shouted to Shira his wife from the window: "I'm fine, everyone's fine!"
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A number of terrorists were also killed in this encounter. In the WhatsApp recordings sent by Amichai to his wife during the battle, he sounds peaceful and calm and emphasized to his wife telling her to make sure that the children feel good and dance because today is Simchat Torah holiday and to bring out all the snacks in the kitchen for them. Be All while fully controlling both the combat mission and the parental mission.
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After several hours of fighting, one of the terrorists surprised Amichai Israel and yedidya from behind and they were killed.

At 13:00, IDF reinforcements arrived to assist the standby unit and by the evening hours, the forces were able to gain full control of the community .
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At the end of the day, the members of the standby squad in Kerem Shalom managed to repel the attack with supreme heroism by all the soldiers and families. During the battle, two members of the standby squad were killed, Amichai Israel Witzen, 33 years old and father of five children, and Moshe Yedidia Raziel, 31 years old and father of three. They both grew up together in the community of Psagot, studied social work together at a college in Ashkelon and arrived at Kibbutz Kerem Shalom as part of the religious core that came to strengthen the kibbutz that was on the verge of closure. They bought houses in the kibbutz and became close friends. In addition to them, two members of the emergency department were injured and another resident whose house was invaded by terrorists.
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The dignity of Amichai Israel Witzen and Yedidia Raziel who grew up together and fell together saved the kibbutz.

In their action, they managed to prevent the terrorists from entering the houses of civilians in the communitie, and apart from a single house, all of the houses In the kibbutz remained a refuge for families.
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The heroism of the fallen warriors Amichai Israel Witzen and Yedidia Raziel Rosenberg is a symbol of bravery and devotion to all.

May they Rest In Peace.