The Testimonies Archive

On Oct. 7, 2023, Israel suffered one of the worst tragedies in its history when armed Hamas terrorists breached the Gaza border and brutally murdered hundreds of innocent Israeli citizens, women and children included. These are the firsthand testimonies of those who survived the massacre, those who risked their own lives to save others, and those whose lives were changed forever when they lost loved ones.

Following six weeks of anguish, families of hostages take action. (via Israel: Take 3)

Din’s best friend offered him a gig going security at a music festival in the south, which would change his life forever. (via Israel: Take 3)

Ohad turned nine-years-old in Hamas’s captivity. He was kidnapped with his mom and grandparents on October 7th. (via Israel: Take 3)

Noam and Yishai were murdered by Hamas. Their father shares their story. (via Israel: Take 3)

Michal, a nurse and mother of ten, went to spend Shabbat and the holiday on an army base in the south to bring joy to the soldiers. (via Israel: Take 3)

G, a combat paramedic in reserve, was called to help liberate communities overrun with Hamas terrorists.

As Hamas terrorists attacked the Nova music festival, Omer fled to a nearby bomb shelter. He was having trouble breathing in the crowded shelter and went outside, at which point he was taken hostage. His father, Shai, shares his story.

Adi and Yaniv’s cousin, 28-year-old Amit Buskila, was at NOVA when Hamas terrorists attacked. She and a friend tried to escape, but terrorists stopped their car and killed her friend. Amit ran and hid under another car, where she was able to call her uncle. But the car soon drove away and she was left with nowhere to hide. Phone data collected by the government suggests she’s being held captive in Gaza.

Lior’s father, Chaim Peri, had his home invaded by Hamas terrorists. He told his wife to hide, which saved her life. Chaim was taken hostage and remains in Gaza.

After sixteen hours in her family’s safe room, the IDF arrived at their door to evacuate them, but Renana wasn’t sure if they were Hamas terrorists trying to trick them.

Eden was home for the holidays when the attacks began, and took shelter in her basement while her neighborhood’s security team and the IDF warded off terrorists.

Eden’s friend Oria was at the Nova music festival with a couple of friends when Hamas attacked. Oria had been texting with her sister and mother when she and her friends fled in a Jeep. Then the texts stopped. A few days later, Eden found out Oria had been killed.

While under fire from terrorists at the NOVA party, Nitzan helped her friend run for cover. [HEBREW]

Haim was shot in his hand while out for a bike ride near his kibbutz. [HEBREW]

Shay drove full speed to escape the terrorists at the NOVA party. [HEBREW]

Yonatan was with his pregnant wife and toddler when terrorists stormed their kibbutz. They celebrated their daughter’s birthday in their safe room, while across the kibbutz his younger brother was kidnapped. [HEBREW]

After hearing rockets and gunfire, then seeing videos online of Hamas soldiers crossing the border, the reality of the coming war quickly became evident for Noam.

Shaked and his friends were at a small music festival called Psyduck when they started hearing rockets overhead

When Adele received frantic Whatsapp messages from her neighborhood group chat about terrorists breaking into people’s homes, she huddled in her safe room with her son.

Mayaan’s son was on his army base when the attacks started, and is now captive

Orian Adar’s grandmother was taken captive in Gaza on her own mobility scooter

Eyal, 18, helped his fellow kibbutz members that had been injured in a grenade attack

Malki’s son Omer, 21, was kidnapped from the Nova party:

Andrey escaped from the Nova party:

Yosef, a Bedouin Israeli bus driver, drove people to and from the Nova party:

Maayan’s son Ron was kidnapped from his military base:

Ohad’s daughter Tiferet was at the Nova party and is now missing:

Ophir’s cousin Savyon went missing after a small party in the south of Israel, and was confirmed dead three days later:

Ori has been called up to the Israeli military:

Yehudit lives on Kibbutz Urim, a short distance from Gaza, and helps care for its residents:

Ofek and Liad spent more than 12 hours escaping the NOVA party

Eytan was on his way to synagogue when the rockets started

We’ll be updating this archive as we collect more stories. To share yours, email us at [email protected].