Reim is a small, secular kibbutz within 7km of the Gaza Strip in southern Israel’s Gaza periphery or Gaza Envelope. The kibbutz was initially called “Tel Reim” or Hill of Friends, the Hebrew translation of the adjacent archaeological site - Tel Jemmeh. Eventually, it became simply “Reim” or Friends in honor of kibbutz members who lost their lives in the Israeli War of Independence in 1948.
The main sources of income for kibbutz Reim are agriculture and a laser company called Isralaser. Other industries on the kibbutz include IsraBig, which manufactures machine tools, and a room letting business. The agricultural side of the kibbutz included orchards, a chicken coop, and crop fields.
In 2008 the kibbutz embarked on an ambitious project to become the first Israeli community to rely completely on solar energy for domestic consumption. Over the years, Reim and the rest of the Gaza Envelope communities became the target of rockets, burning kites, and explosive balloons sent across the border from Gaza. Each home had a safe room (residential shelter) with reinforced walls and doors. When sirens were heard warning of incoming rockets from Gaza, the residents of Reim had 8-15 seconds to reach their safe room.
When the State of Israel was established in 1948, the Jewish underground forces of the Palmach that had battled against the British were demobilized. Some members joined the new Israeli Defense Force and some formed the Israel Boys and Girls Scouts Federation.
It was this group that in 1949, built Kibbutz Reim at the confluence of the Besor and Gerar streams, on the edge of the Negev Desert. Kibbutz Reim. The kibbutz grew as young families joined, looking for a high quality of life in a cooperative community and a rural environment. By 2023 the kibbutz was home to approximately 435 people.
The pastoral community on Reim Kibbutz lived a quiet life, with comfortable housing, and everything they needed within the agricultural collective. They had a supermarket, clinic, swimming pool, green lawns, a school, and gardens. They regularly celebrated cultural events such as festivals, and exhibitions. The kibbutz was known for its landscaped gardens, wide paths, and rich community life. Residents had playgrounds, a club, a gym, a museum, a pub, and regular services within the community such as hairdressers, a locksmith, and a post office.
More than 100 armed Hama terrorists entered Kibbutz Reim as the sun was rising on October 7, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, the last day of Sukkot. It was part of an organized attack on several communities in the Israeli territory adjacent to Gaza known as the Gaza Envelope or Gaza Periphery.
Reim Kibbutz’s six-member security team did its best to hold off the infiltration but to no avail.
Members of the kibbutz were trapped in their homes, hiding from the rampaging Hamas terrorists who violently tore through the community. Reim residents who survived remained in their homes for over 24 hours during the attack.
In the aftermath, they found that 5 kibbutz members and two Thai workers had been killed. One teenage resident, Liam Or, and four Thai workers were taken hostage in Gaza. Not far from the kibbutz, another massacre was taking place at an open-air music festival, the Nova Party.
A weekend-long trance music festival (Supernova nature party) was being held in several Reim kibbutz fields. At dawn, rockets began flying over the festival goers. They knew that this was a common occurrence near Gaza, but the rocket barrage did not end, it just kept going.
Next armed Hamas terrorists drove into the crowd of 3000+ partiers, on motorcycles and trucks. Others landed by engine-driven paragliders. Revelers scattered in all directions running for their lives, chased by terrorists on a mission to kill as many Jews as possible. They indiscriminately shot into the crowd, mutilated the bodies of partygoers, raped women, and took hostages.
Most of the people attending the festival had arrived by car, and as chaos erupted, they headed for their cars and tried to escape death. But the cars were met on the roads by rampaging terrorists who shot them down and burned the cars.
Some of the innocent partygoers managed to escape, others hid for hours in orchards, ditches, and safe rooms until they were rescued. At least 364 people were murdered and 40 people were taken hostage from the party.
Since that tragic day, the kibbutz has remained abandoned, its residents were initially evacuated to Eilat and later moved to Tel Aviv. All of the Reim hostages were returned to Israel during a hostage exchange deal. Several farmers remained at the kibbutz to maintain the agricultural operations, while the rest of the residents wish to return to Reim once it is safe.
Join Us
Keep in Touch
Login / Register
Contact Us
Show On Map
Certificate of Excellence
Guaranteed Departure
Low Prices Guaranteed
24/7 Support
