One Year After October 7: Israelis Reflect on Darkest Day

October 7, 2023, remains ingrained in the collective memory of Israelis as a day of profound loss and horror. On that day, militants from Hamas conducted a highly organized assault, penetrating southern Israel from Gaza. This attack was marked as the most lethal assault on Jews in a single day since the Holocaust, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1,200 people and the abduction of approximately 250 others taken hostage into Gaza.

The ramifications of the attack are still keenly felt a year later, with the grief and trauma palpable among survivors and the families of victims. For those who lived through the atrocities of that day, the anniversary brings both haunting memories and a reflection on resilience in the face of terror.

Among those recounting their experiences is Ziv Abud, who was at the Nova music festival. “Suddenly at 6:29 a.m., the music stopped, and we saw interceptions in the sky,” Abud recalled. Used to missile alarms, she initially downplayed the threat until the panic set in due to the rapid onset of danger.

Batsheva Cohen Yahalomi, living at Kibbutz Nir Oz, was awakened by sirens. Accustomed to seeking refuge, her family moved to a safe room. “We heard gunfire outside and realized the sirens were not just the usual,” she explained. Terrified for their lives, her husband attempted to protect the family from outside the shelter.

Akiva Shabbat, a volunteer medic from Magen David Adom, described his response to an attack in his town, Shlomit. “I saw dust everywhere—now I understand it was a direct hit,” he recounted. Despite the chaos, he continued his duties, responding to urgent calls for help.

As chaos unfolded, farmer Oz Davidian was thrust into rescue operations around the Nova music festival, endeavoring to save young people trapped by the attackers. “Kids were running from the party, injured,” Davidian described as he attempted to help evacuate them from danger.

Doron Kadosh, military affairs correspondent for Israel’s Army Radio, documented the series of events, noting the strategic breaches made by Hamas militants. “They used explosives and trucks to topple the border fence,” he reported, emphasizing the calculated nature of the assault.

The attack caused massive disruption not only to the residents’ lives in the southern Israeli towns and cities but also challenged the very fabric of national security. As conflicts continued, calls for effective responses resonated across the region.

Since then, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has intensified military operations in Gaza, and conflict has spilled over into other areas, including a new front against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Batsheva Cohen Yahalomi’s son, Eitan, was among those released in a ceasefire in November 2023, yet many, like her husband Ohad and Ziv’s boyfriend Eliya, remain unaccounted for.

In the year since the attack, Israel’s citizens continue to grapple with the aftermath, seeking closure and longing for peace amidst an ongoing deadly conflict in the region.