WARNING: This story contains graphic and distressing content.
When Israeli-American artist Tomer Peretz booked flights for himself and his two young children from Los Angeles to Israel for a cousin’s wedding, he anticipated a fun-filled time with family and close friends.
He was planning music, dancing and laughing with loved ones they hadn’t seen in a long time.
But within days of their arrival, everything changed when Hamas launched its surprise terrorist attack in the early morning hours of October 7, resulting in the loss of more than 1,400 Israeli lives and the country declaring war on the terrorist group.
Peretz, 41, was not only horrified and shocked by the attack, but also felt a duty to help his compatriots.
He immediately raised his hand to volunteer with Zaka, the country’s civil rescue and recovery organization.
However, nothing could prepare him for what would happen next, as he was assigned to a highly specialized unit that cleans up corpses after disasters and sent to Kibbutz Be’eri, where more than 100 people, including babies, had been tortured and massacred. by the ruthless attack of Hamas.
Peretz insisted on describing to the Post what he had seen to convey the level of atrocity and barbarity of the terrorists.
Israeli-American artist Tomer Peretz (left) with other members of Zaka, the country’s civil rescue and recovery organization. Tomer Peretz Peretz was in Israel for a cousin’s wedding when Hamas launched the terrorist attacks that killed about 1,400 Israelis. Tomer Peretz
Among the bodies of the victims he personally recovered were burned babies, a woman who had been “shot in the face about 20 times,” innocent men, and elderly people.
“Everything was blown away, there was no face,” Peretz said of the woman who had been shot to death.
“We collected body parts like arms… My team collected a burned baby with an ax in the head. “My team leader put the baby in a bag.”
Peretz tending to a body bag at the kibbutz. Tomer Peretz Damage caused to a house in Kibbutz Be’eri, where more than 100 Israelis died. Tomer Peretz
He told The Post that his job was to lift the burned and bloodied corpses, then wrap and roll them in plastic, before writing the person’s house number on their back with a marker and putting them in a bag, according to protocol by Zaka.
The body bags are then placed in a refrigerated truck and delivered to the military, he said.
“We don’t know what the military will do with the bodies next, but I assume that’s when the DNA verification process begins,” said Peretz, who returned to the United States with his children a week ago.
Be’eri, a kibbutz or communal farm, has a total of 1,100 residents throughout its area and is located near the Gaza border wall, from where Hamas broke through to launch its attack.
Blood stains inside a bedroom at the kibbutz.Tomer Peretz A damaged crib inside a child’s room at the kibbutz. Peretz had to personally recover the bodies of the babies killed during the operation.Tomer Peretz
During their day-long attack on the Be’eri kibbutz, Hamas militants swept through neighborhoods shooting residents, setting homes on fire, and killing those trying to escape the smoke and flames.
They murdered more than 120 people, including children, and kidnapped others.
The Israeli military was the first to discover the atrocities that had taken place as they inspected what remained of homes and buildings to ensure they were free of bombs and to gather information about the victims.
Zaka’s specialized unit was then called in to carry out its gruesome but essential work.
Zaka volunteers with a row of bodies stuffed in bags from the kibbutz.Tomer Peretz More than 100 people were tortured and murdered in the Be’eri kibbutz.Tomer Peretz Peretz working with other volunteers.Tomer Peretz
Peretz said he personally handled at least 40 bodies and saw more than 100 during the three and a half days he volunteered with Zaka before returning to the United States.
“Sometimes we didn’t know if they were brothers or terrorists, but we always treated them like brothers because you never want to make a mistake,” he said.
“[Even if they were a terrorist] We don’t spit on them. we do not [defile them]We don’t do that kind of thing.
“We just wrap them up and give them to the military; I have no idea what the military will do with the bodies next.”
A volunteer stepping over rubble while carrying a children’s toy found at the kibbutz.Tomer Peretz
Zaka, a non-governmental organization, has more than 3,000 volunteers deployed across the country to respond to any terrorist attack, disaster or major accident.
It has sole responsibility in Israel for dealing with incidents of unnatural death and works in close cooperation with all emergency services and security forces, according to its website.
Peretz told The Post that he called a friend who had worked with the unit for 25 years to offer help and that they accepted him “because he knew I was crazy enough to come.”
A blood-stained hallway inside a house in Kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel after a Hamas attack.Ron Haviv/VII/Redux A bloody handprint on the wall of a house in Kibbutz Nir Oz.Ron Haviv/VII /Redux The attack on Nir Oz resulted in 100 of 400 residents dead or missing. Ron Haviv/VII/Redux
But what he said shook him to his core, and Peretz says he “still hasn’t processed” the horror of what he experienced. He described the scenes as “unimaginable” and said he saw several military personnel and volunteers vomit and faint in response to the sights, smells and scale of the devastation.
“From the moment you enter the kibbutz, it smells of death and burning bodies,” he said.
“One of the most difficult things about the operation is collecting bodies.
“Something that makes it very difficult physically and mentally is when the body stays there for a few days and swells, drips and explodes.
“There are also worms everywhere. There is no special technique on how to handle those things. You just have to do it.
Damage caused to a house in Nir Oz after the Hamas attack.Ron Haviv/VII/Redux Blood on the wall of a child’s room after the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz.Ron Haviv/VII/Redux The glasses of a person left on a table in a house in Nir Oz after the attack. Ron Haviv/VII/Redux
“Everything is done by hand. In many cases you enter a house with many bodies around and you cover your eyes with your hands so as not to see everything except what you need to look at at that moment.
“I know it’s disgusting, but it happens every day and we have to do it every day.”
Peretz said his children, ages 5 and 9, stayed with their grandparents while he did the volunteer work, before returning to the United States together last weekend.
Peretz described collecting bodies as “the dirtiest job in the world,” but he is still desperate to return and help his fellow Israelis.
“I want to come back. It’s hard for me to stay here. I can’t do anything,” she stated.
After nearly two weeks of war in Israel, at least 3,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have died, according to the latest reported death tolls.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn