Strengthening the Eshkol Region - standing by the residents to support and rehabilitate together

Dear partners and friends, As you are aware, on October 7, 2023, early Saturday morning, we, the residents of the Eshkol regional council, were savagely attacked. Thousands of armed terrorists cut through the border fences and brutally assaulted the communities of the Gaza envelope, a large, open-air music festival we hosted and army bases in the region, aiming to destroy everything, everybody, all of us. The monstrous details of the disaster and its unfathomable scope are being revealed as days go by. Stories of slaughter and horror unfold before our eyes, as do stories of heroism, resourcefulness, resistance and survival. The murderous attack we suffered is horrendous, inconceivable. We are shocked, heartbroken, badly injured. We bereaved our flesh and blood – our elders, fathers, mothers, children, toddlers, babies. Youngsters who had their whole lives ahead of them are buried side by side with our founders. Still horrified, mourning the dead and agonizing day and night over the absence of the hostages and those who are still missing, not knowing their fate, we are determined to persevere. The Lord is our witness – we will rise from this terrible devastation, come even closer together as a community, rebuild the ruins, heal body and soul and revive the scarred land. For more than two decades, we have stood firmly as a barrier between Gaza, stronghold of Hamas, and Israel. We are the "Gaza Envelope", and in fact – the "Israel Envelope". We endured rockets launched at our homes, suffered threats to our lives, our fields were burnt over and over again. Through repeated devastation and painful losses, we heroically maintained thriving agriculture and vibrant communities. Time and again, we succeeded in brushing off the dust, rising up, recovering, rebuilding, recultivating our crops. New life arose from the ashes, new communities emerged from the pain – strong, united and optimistic. We were strong in spirit, we still are, and we are determined to live and love again. A long battle still awaits us, and a challenging journey towards recovery and healing. Every aspect of life is ruptured, and in need of deep and patient recovery. The needs at this time and the times ahead are huge, as are the physical, emotional, spiritual and financial resources this effort will require. We cannot do it alone. We are encouraged by the massive number of people and organizations that have already come forward to help us – individuals and corporations generously and willingly give whatever they can offer: working hands, a roof over our heads, therapeutic resources, transportation, funding, food, daily supplies, a shoulder to cry on. We draw comfort and power from the many individuals, communities and organizations, both locally and internationally, who reach out to embrace us at this hard time; every contribution, big and small, is paving our way back home. We reach out to you, our valued partners: stand by us at this low point in our history. Be a breath of fresh air in our lungs, help us overcome the crisis and mend the brutally-torn fabric of our lives. With you, we will reclaim hope for better days, and faith that we will once again survive and flourish.