Gevim | |
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Coordinates: 31°30′27″N 34°35′55″E / 31.50750°N 34.59861°ECoordinates: 31°30′27″N 34°35′55″E / 31.50750°N 34.59861°E | |
District | Southern |
Council | Sha'ar HaNegev |
Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
Founded | 1947 |
Founded by | Palmach members |
Population (2015) | 520 |
Gevim (Hebrew: גֵּבִים, lit. Cisterns) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located in the northwestern Negev desert near Sderot, it falls under the jurisdiction of Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 520.
The kibbutz was established in 1947 under the name Sde Akiva. The founding members were from the Palmach and had previously been members of HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed. It served as a headquarters for the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and was later renamed Gevim.
Kibbutz Gevim. 1948
Members of Yiftach Brigade at Gevim. 1948
Water supply, Gevim 1948
During the 2000s, the kibbutz suffered from the repeating Qassam rocket attacks, with damage to buildings and minor injuries to residents. Based on an interview with the community manager of the kibbutz, the Goldstone Report on the Gaza conflict stated that sixty percent of the kibbutz children received psychological counselling.
In addition to agriculture, the kibbutz has a plastics factory. Poleg Plastic Industries operates two plants, one on the kibbutz and the other in Leipzig, Germany. The company is jointly owned by Kibbutz Gevim and Poli-Film Group, a private German company.
The kibbutz is located near Sha'ar HaNegev school and Sapir Academic College.