Before the siren went off, Sagit Levi Gelfarb preempted the attack and Alerted the Security Team
At 6:25 on Saturday morning, even before the sirens went off in Kibbutz Erez (the only siren
heard was in Kibbutz Native Ha’asarak, a mile away) – Sagit Levi Gelfarb, head of the kibbutz
security team – instructed all members of the kibbutz to lock themselves in their home
safety room until further notice. At the same time she ran to open the command room,
already hearing the shouts of the terrorists outside the kibbutz. These two resourceful
decisions allowed the kibbutz security team to intercept the terrorist squad minutes away
from invading the kibbutz and save untold lives . The eight-member team valiantly fought
some 30 terrorists. Once in the command center, she attempted to call the military and
rescue forces for aid, but to no avail. Two young men arrived at the command center,
having come to their morning shift at the kibbutz café and were caught in the battle. Sagit
led them under fire to the safety room in her own house. Wounded members of the kibbutz
and the security team began arriving at the command center. After long hours, by 11 o’clock
most of the terrorists were eliminated or driven away from the kibbutz. Thanks to Levi
Gelfarb resourcefulness, Kibbutz Erez was spared the tragedy that befell the surrounding communities. Atrocity
