We Will Not Forget: Reflections on October 7

The Israeli flag rested against the cold stone wall of the memorial site, its blue and white fabric a stark contrast to the gray surroundings. I stood there in silence, alongside dozens of others who had come to pay their respects to the victims of October 7, 2023—a date now etched into Israel's collective memory and my own personal history.

On that morning, which coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. The assault, unprecedented in scale and brutality since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people, with thousands more wounded and over 200 taken hostage.

The Day That Changed Everything

"I was preparing breakfast when the sirens began," recalls Sarah Cohen, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri, one of the hardest-hit communities. "Within minutes, we heard gunfire and explosions. We rushed to our safe room and stayed there for 18 hours until soldiers evacuated us."

The attack began at approximately 6:30 AM when Hamas fired thousands of rockets across southern and central Israel, creating a diversion for the main ground assault. Armed militants breached the border fence in multiple locations, infiltrating nearby communities, military bases, and the Nova music festival, where hundreds of young people were celebrating.

According to the official investigation report published by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the attack involved an estimated 3,000 militants who used various means to cross the border, including paragliders, motorcycles, pickup trucks, and bulldozers to destroy sections of the security barrier.

I remember watching the news unfold with growing horror from my apartment in Tel Aviv. By midday, reports of mass casualties and hostage-taking were flooding in. My phone buzzed constantly with messages from friends and family checking if everyone was safe. One message stopped my heart—my cousin's family lived in Sderot, one of the targeted communities.

Testimonies of Terror

The Nova music festival, held in a rural area near Kibbutz Re'im, became one of the most devastating sites of the attack. According to survivor testimonies collected by the Israeli Ministry of Health, militants surrounded the festival grounds, blocking escape routes and systematically attacking attendees.

"We were dancing when we heard explosions. At first, we thought it was part of the show, but then people started running," said Tal Levin, a festival survivor interviewed for the national archive of testimonies. "I hid in the woods for six hours before I could escape."

The aftermath of October 7 prompted a major military response from Israel, leading to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), this has resulted in significant casualties and humanitarian challenges on both sides.

A Society Transformed

In the months following the attack, Israeli society has been transformed. Psychologists have documented widespread trauma symptoms affecting not only direct survivors but also the broader population. Dr. Rachel Yehuda, director of the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research, notes that "the scale of this collective trauma is unprecedented in recent Israeli history."

As I stand at the memorial, I notice the photos displayed along the wall—faces of the hostages, some of whom have been released while others remain in captivity. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum reports that negotiation efforts have resulted in several exchanges, but dozens remain in Gaza.

For many Israeli citizens, security perceptions have fundamentally changed. A national survey conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 78% of respondents reported feeling less secure in their daily lives, with 64% expressing decreased confidence in the country's defense capabilities.

Communities Displaced

Communities in southern Israel, particularly those near the Gaza border, have experienced massive displacement. According to the Israeli Ministry of Welfare and Social Services, over 60,000 residents from these areas were evacuated following the attack, with many still unable to return to their homes.

The international response to the events has been complex and often divisive. While many world leaders condemned the Hamas attack, the subsequent military operations in Gaza have sparked protests and debates globally about proportionality and civilian protection.

As dusk falls, candles are lit around the memorial. A young soldier places another Israeli flag beside the first. His hands tremble slightly—a reminder that behind the geopolitical analysis and statistical reporting lies the deeply human impact of that day. For the families of victims and the communities targeted, October 7 marked not just a national tragedy but intensely personal losses.

Looking Forward

Looking forward, Israeli society faces the dual challenges of recovery and prevention. Security experts like Michael Milshtein of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern Studies suggest that "the events of October 7 will reshape Israeli security doctrine for decades to come, similar to how the Yom Kippur War transformed military thinking in the 1970s."

As international mediation efforts continue, both for hostage releases and potential ceasefires, the flags at memorials like this one serve as reminders of national unity in times of crisis. They also represent the complex emotional landscape of a nation simultaneously grieving, fighting, and attempting to envision a path forward after one of the darkest days in its modern history.

I place a small stone on the memorial wall, following Jewish tradition. In the fading light, the blue and white of the flag seems to glow against the gray backdrop—a symbol of both mourning and resilience, of a nation forever changed by the events of a single day.