Erez is named after the first group that settled the
kibbutz, who were members of the
Noar HaOved from
Petah Tikva. It was founded in 1949. Archaeological discoveries from Erez include a statue of a
griffin with a
Greek dedication by a priest, dating to 210/211 AD. Additionally, fragments of Greek inscriptions, one potentially
Latin, have been found here.
1948 Arab-Israeli war Before the founding of the kibbutz the Palestinian village of
Dimrah (
Arabic: دمرة) existed on the same land, with a population of 520 in 1945. On October 31, 1948, during the
1948 Palestine War, the village evacuated all women and children. Nothing specific is known of when the men left. However, the
Arab Liberation Army often required men to stay and fight alongside its armed forces, all of whom would have been forced to withdraw if, as at Dimra, they were defeated. The kibbutz's security team assembled to prevent the Hamas soldiers from entering the kibbutz through the main gate. After contacting the IDF they were informed that no help would be coming. A firefight involving rifles, grenades, and RPGs ensued. The whole kibbutz was evacuated to a hotel in
Mitzpe Ramon. After several weeks, makeshift schools were established. Since then the kibbutz's population was relocated to Kiryat Gat. ==Economy==