In the aftermath of the brutal attack on kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel by Hamas gunmen on October 7th, one volunteer first responder named Jamal Warraqi shares his harrowing experience. Warraqi, a Muslim Israeli Arab, was among the first to arrive at the scene, witnessing the horrifying sight of slaughtered families and children. Despite the distressing nature of the incident, Warraqi believes that this tragedy only reinforces the necessity for humans to put an end to hatred and coexist peacefully.
Warraqi is a dedicated volunteer for Zaka, a non-governmental rescue and recovery service. Established in 1995, Zaka primarily consists of ultra-religious Jews who are committed to ensuring that victims are buried in accordance with Jewish law. However, the organization also welcomes Christian, Druze, and Muslim volunteers like Warraqi.
Recalling the events of that day, Warraqi emotionally recounts the heart-wrenching scenes he encountered while rushing to Be’eri in an ambulance. He witnessed families who had been mercilessly slaughtered, including a father, mother, and their three children who were tied up and shot in the head. The magnitude of the tragedy led Warraqi to contemplate the sequence of events and wonder who had been killed first, the parents or the children.
The peaceful community of Be’eri was left devastated, with houses burnt to the ground and families killed within their own homes. Warraqi emphasizes that this brutality has nothing to do with Islam, asserting his pride as an Arabic Muslim Israeli and stating that such acts contradict the teachings of their religion.
Be’eri was one of the communities most severely affected by the Hamas assault, which Israeli officials claim resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, predominantly civilians who were shot in their homes, on the streets, or during a dance festival. This attack marked the deadliest incident in Israel’s 75-year history.
As surviving residents were eventually evacuated, Israel responded by launching a fierce bombardment and ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Tragically, this retaliation has resulted in the deaths of over 11,500 people.
Warraqi highlights the fact that many Muslims were also killed in the assault. He personally attended to two Arab women wearing hijabs who had been shot by the attackers, as well as three Arab bus drivers from East Jerusalem who were shot in the head. This further emphasizes that Hamas’ actions are driven by hatred rather than any genuine concern for their country or religion.
Despite the horrors he has witnessed, Warraqi maintains hope that Jews, Arabs, Christians, and Muslims can learn to coexist harmoniously in Israel. He firmly believes that they are all the same and asserts that Israel has now learned how to die together, but it is time to learn how to live together. Warraqi calls for an end to hatred and a new era of peaceful coexistence.
