In Memory of October 7th
Sami Bsoul, PhD
Read this article in Hebrew and Slovak .
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The tragic events of October 7th still weigh heavily on the collective memory, forming the emotional core of the commemoration held this month by the State of Israel in Slovakia. The ceremony included a film screening and reflections on the lives lost that day. During his address, Eitan Levon, Ambassador of Israel to Slovakia, who has also served in Prague, Vienna, Geneva, and Houston, spoke with unwavering conviction: “We will
not give up the beautiful state of Israel, which has contributed to the world much more than they ever will. We will go strong and continue our quest for peace. With Arab and Muslim states wanting peace, we will build and foster goodness in the Middle East for the real benefit of its people.”
His presence in Slovakia has coincided with some of the most turbulent global events in recent memory. Ambassador Levon arrived while the coronavirus was still affecting daily life. A few months later, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, forcing the entire region to confront a new geopolitical reality. Then came the shock of October 7th. Reflecting on that day, he said, “Hamas terrorists tried to annihilate us with the help of the Iranians; they tried to do it with the help of Hezbollah, and even tried it with the help of the Houthis in Yemen.”
Addressing the question many have asked since the attack, Ambassador Levon spoke with sobering honesty: “Many people asked me, ‘How did we fail to foresee what was coming on October 7th?’ Well, we believed the Palestinians who said they wanted peace and a two-state solution. But already on the day of the massacre, October 7th, 2023, and until today, we have heard all over Europe many thousands of demonstrators marching and shouting: not ‘two-state solution’, never; they have not said it in the past two years. But it was always ‘from the river to the sea’ or ‘destroy Israel,’ both meaning the genocide of all Jews in Israel, which was always, unfortunately, their goal.”
Ambassador Levon continued with a painful but resolute message: “Now we have a state, and we could fight back, making sure that this Holocaust would last just one day, but what a day it was. Thousands of dead, mutilated, raped, and forever traumatized people in just one day. The State of Israel will carry this trauma for many more years.” (The events unfold in the timeline below, hour by hour)
The ceremony took a deeply emotional turn when Ambassador Levon and his daughter, Danna, performed a moving song in Hebrew, capturing the pain and hope of the day.
The song, כשהלב בוכה (“When the Heart Cries”), was shared in English during the event and is presented here, along with the original Hebrew lyrics:
Original singer: Sarit Hadad
Lyrics by: Yossi Gispan
Music by: Shmuel Elbaz
When the heart cries, only God listens
The pain rises from within the soul
A person falls before they sink
A small prayer cuts through the silence
Hear, Israel, my God, You are all-powerful
You gave me my life, You gave me everything
In my eyes a tear, the heart cries in silence
And when the heart is silent, the soul screams
Hear, Israel, my God, now I am alone
Strengthen me, my God, make it so I do not fear
The pain is great and there is nowhere to run
Make it end, for there is no strength left in me
When the heart cries, time stops its course
A person suddenly sees their whole life
To the unknown they do not wish to go
Calling to their God on the edge of the abyss
Hear, Israel, my God, You are all-powerful
You gave me my life, You gave me everything
In my eyes a tear, the heart cries in silence
And when the heart is silent, the soul screams
Hear, Israel, my God, now I am alone
Strengthen me, my God, make it so I do not fear
The pain is great and there is nowhere to run
Make it end, for there is no strength left in me
Hebrew (Original):
זמרת: שרית חדד
מילים: יוסי גיספן
לחן: שמואל אלבז
כְּשֶׁהַלֵּב בּוֹכֶה רַק אֱלוֹהִים שׁוֹמֵעַ
הַכְּאֵב עוֹלֶה מִתּוֹךְ הַנְּשָׁמָה
אָדָם נוֹפֵל לִפְנֵי שֶׁהוּא שׁוֹקֵעַ
בִּתְפִלָּה קְטַנָּה חוֹתֵךְ אֶת הַדְּמָמָה
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהַי אַתָּה הַכֹּל יָכוֹל
נָתַתָּ לִי אֶת חַיַּי נָתַתָּ לִי הַכֹּל
בְּעֵינַי דִּמְעָה הַלֵּב בּוֹכֶה בְּשֶׁקֶט
וּכְשֶׁהַלֵּב שׁוֹתֵק הַנְּשָׁמָה זוֹעֶקֶת
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהַי, עַכְשָׁו אֲנִי לְבַד
חַזֵּק אוֹתִי אֱלֹהַי עֲשֵׂה שֶׁלֹּא אֶפְחַד
הַכְּאֵב גָּדוֹל וְאֵין לְאָן לִבְרֹחַ
עֲשֵׂה שֶׁיִּגָּמֵר כִּי לֹא נוֹתַר בִּי כֹּחַ
כְּשֶׁהַלֵּב בּוֹכֶה הַזְּמַן עוֹמֵד מִלֶּכֶת
הָאָדָם רוֹאֶה אֶת כָּל חַיָּיו פִּתְאוֹם
אֶל הַלֹּא נוֹדָע הוּא לֹא רוֹצֶה לָלֶכֶת
לֶאֱלֹהָיו קוֹרֵא עַל סַף תְּהוֹם
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהַי עַכְשָׁו אֲנִי לְבַד
חַזֵּק אוֹתִי אֱלֹהַי עֲשֵׂה שֶׁלֹּא אֶפְחַד
הַכְּאֵב גָּדוֹל וְאֵין לְאָן לִבְרֹחַ
עֲשֵׂה שֶׁיִּגָּמֵר כִּי לֹא נוֹתַר בִּי כֹּחַ
As part of the commemoration, attendees also watched the documentary מיגונית המוות, translated as Death Bunker. The film recounts the horrific events of October 7, 2023, exactly two years ago, when terrorist attacks claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people. It shares the powerful and painful stories of victims and their families.
The title “Death Bunker” refers to ten concrete shelters near the Gaza Strip, including locations at the Re’im, Alumim, and Be’eri junctions.
These shelters became sites of murder and abduction, as dozens of young people fleeing massacres at the Nova Festival and on Zikim Beach were trapped inside.
The documentary details the surprise attack by Hamas’s terrorists, specifically the elite Nukhba unit, on the Nova Festival near Kibbutz Re’im.
Armed intruders stormed the festival on the night of October 6–7, killing civilians, wounding hundreds, and abducting many into Gaza.
Sexual assault and violence were also committed during the assault, marking it as one of the largest terrorist attacks in Israel’s history.
The film focuses particularly on the shelter at Re’im, where approximately thirty festival participants sought protection.
Inside were 27 men and women, including security personnel, journalists, and families.
Survivors’ testimonies and video evidence reveal acts of extreme courage, such as Aner Shapira’s attempt to defend those inside by throwing back grenades, ultimately sacrificing his life.
The documentary captures moments of bravery and humanity far beyond what any Hollywood dramatization could convey.
For viewers who wish to watch, the video is available on YouTube here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4TOZ5fr1Hg
If it is restricted in your country, using a VPN set to Israel allows access, as some regions are blocked by the original channel.
October 7th: Hour by Hour. From Dawn to Darkness. The Day Hamas Terror Struck Israel 
06:26 – Hamas launches a surprise attack on Israel
On the morning of Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023, the residents of Israel awoke to a heavy barrage of rockets and missiles fired by the terrorist organization Hamas. Sirens sounded across southern, central, and lowland communities, as well as in the hills of Jerusalem. What was not yet known was that, under the cover of this intense shelling, thousands of armed Hamas militants breached the border fence, infiltrating IDF bases and nearby border communities.
06:54 – Rocket attacks on Israel; sirens sound nationwide
Sirens continued to wail across the country, from the Gaza periphery to communities in the Sharon region. Within a short time, reports came in of rocket impacts in Ashkelon, Yavne, and Kfar Aviv. Buildings were hit, and several people were injured, including one woman in Kfar Aviv who was critically wounded and later succumbed to her injuries. The security forces were caught off guard by the scale of the barrage. Defense Minister Yoav Galant rushed to the Kirya headquarters for a situation assessment with senior security officials. At the same time, reports emerged of an ambulance driver being fired upon at the Urim junction, and concerns arose about militants infiltrating border communities via paragliders and vehicles.
07:32 – First images of militants infiltrating communities: armed Hamas militants in a pickup truck in Sderot
Reports of militants entering Israeli communities were multiplying. A video showed armed men riding in a white pickup truck along a main street in Sderot without impediment, revealing that Israel was facing an unprecedented terrorist assault. In footage captured by local residents, the militants could be seen firing at a police vehicle, balconies, and homes. Citizens were instructed to stay indoors. The full scope of the attack was still unclear, neither residents nor security forces knew how many militants had entered Israel or from how many locations.
Bnei Beeri Kibbutz: Militants infiltrate, call for army assistance
By this stage, it was already known that battles were taking place in several Gaza border communities, and militants had taken control of residential homes. The IDF declared a state of emergency. Residents of Kibbutz Bnei Beeri reported that dozens of militants were spread throughout the kibbutz, attempting to break into homes. People across the Gaza periphery sent urgent requests for assistance to anyone they could, including the media, pleading for military intervention.
In retrospect, hundreds of militants had infiltrated Bnei Beeri during what would later be called the “Black Sabbath.” 102 kibbutz residents were killed in cold blood, most during the first hours of the surprise attack. The kibbutz’s emergency response team faced the overwhelming number of armed militants with remarkable bravery.
Around 09:00, a team of elite IDF soldiers from Sayeret Matkal joined the kibbutz’s emergency team. Additional forces arrived at approximately 13:00. During the defense of Bnei Beeri, 33 soldiers, police officers, security personnel, volunteers, and members of the kibbutz emergency team were killed. More than thirty residents were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, with six still held hostage.
08:46 – Serious concern over abduction of soldiers and civilians to the Gaza Strip
A dramatic video circulated showing armed Hamas militants returning to Gaza in an IDF jeep they had stolen after a clash with soldiers.
Fears grew that these vehicles were carrying abducted soldiers, some alive, some deceased, into the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Arab social media was flooded with videos showing captured soldiers, some in uniform, others not, being taken to Gaza. There were also indications that civilians had been abducted. The IDF had not yet confirmed these reports. It would take several long days for the Israeli security forces to verify that an unprecedented total of 251 civilians and soldiers had been kidnapped to Gaza on that day.
08:57 – Residents of Sderot and the Gaza border communities beg for help, turning to the media to demand army and police intervention
Three hours into the assault, thousands of militants were flooding into Israel. IDF forces were engaged in intense battles, trying to repel the attackers at multiple points at once, yet unable to reach every community under attack. Residents of Sderot and the Gaza periphery were pleading for immediate assistance.
In an unusual and desperate step, Tamir Steinman, the southern correspondent for Channel 12 News, read out messages he was receiving directly from residents in real time, hoping to guide security forces to the right locations. One of the messages he broadcast captured the terror on the ground:
“Tamir, please, the police are not answering. The militants are here in the neighborhood. In our homes. On 101 Moshe Rabbeinu Street in Sderot. Send the police. They are shooting at the houses.”
09:23 – Reports of shooting at the Nova Festival near Re’im, attended by 3,000 people
Family members of festival-goers at the Nova Festival, an outdoor event near Kibbutz Re’im, reported that militants had breached the festival grounds and began firing indiscriminately. One mother went on air to describe her son fleeing from attackers and hiding in the surrounding area for over two hours. She also reported that thousands of young people were attending the festival and that security forces, including police and army units, were not responding to calls for help.
In retrospect, it was revealed that when the first sirens sounded, many attendees rushed to their cars seeking safety. Militants surrounded the long column of vehicles, killing the passengers and young people who tried to flee on foot. In total, 364 people, most in their twenties, were murdered at Nova. There were also numerous reports of sexual assault against both women and men. Forty-four festival-goers were kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
09:24 – Reports of shooting at the Nova Festival near Re’im, attended by 3,000 people
Family members of attendees at the Nova Festival, an outdoor event near Kibbutz Re’im, reported that militants had infiltrated the festival grounds and began shooting indiscriminately. One mother went on air, describing how her son fled from the attackers and had been hiding in the surrounding area for over two hours. She also explained that thousands of young people were present at the festival, and that security forces, including the police and the army, were not responding to calls for help.
In hindsight, it became clear that when the first sirens sounded, many attendees rushed to their cars to escape and find shelter. The militants surrounded the long line of vehicles and began slaughtering those inside as well as young people attempting to flee on foot. A total of 364 people, most in their twenties, were murdered at Nova. Disturbing reports of sexual assault against both women and men were also documented. Forty-four festival-goers were kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
09:45 – Hamas militants and Gaza residents film themselves crossing the border unimpeded
At this stage, the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip had been breached at multiple points. Footage showed that the fence near Khan Yunis was completely destroyed. Nukhba militants and Gaza residents streamed into Israeli territory without resistance, using vehicles, motorcycles, running, and even crutches.
They flooded communities in large numbers, causing destruction, looting, and recording themselves as they attacked civilians in their homes and killed indiscriminately. Much of this was broadcast live on social media.
09:54 – Young people flee the festival near Re’im, seeking shelter in the open
As time passed, it became increasingly clear that an unprecedented disaster was unfolding near Re’im. Militants were slaughtering festival-goers, sweeping the area to hunt for anyone still hiding. They looted, assaulted, sexually abused, set fires, shot indiscriminately, and ensured death wherever possible.
Hundreds of young people found themselves hiding for hours in pits, containers, bushes, and orchards. One man named Magen went on air, describing how he was hiding and could hear bullets whistling and screams all around him. Rescue forces struggled to reach the area to stop the militants and extract survivors. Many of the wounded died on site. Most of the surviving festival-goers were only rescued in the late afternoon, with some not freed until the following day.
10:06 – Defense Minister approves large-scale reserve call-up: “Hamas made a grave mistake this morning”
Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in his first statement from the Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv, said: “Hamas made a grave mistake this morning. They have declared war on the State of Israel.” At the same time, he announced a broad mobilization of reserve forces.
More than one hundred wounded had already been evacuated to hospitals across the country. A terrified resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz described the chaos on the ground: “The militants are inside my home, they are shooting into the house.”
10:43 – Palestinian reporter inside a Gaza border kibbutz reports clashes with militants
A Palestinian “journalist” who entered Kibbutz Nir Oz accompanied by armed Hamas militants reported live that hostages were being taken to Gaza. He described:
“After walking for about an hour or more, we managed to infiltrate one of the most important kibbutzim in the occupied territories. We entered Nir Oz and Nir Am. And here is the scene before you: we are in the heart of the community. Our fighters engaged in direct confrontations, kidnapped residents and soldiers, and killed armed individuals who tried to defend themselves and open fire on our fighters. A scene like this has never been seen before. We will continue reporting to you on these events happening at this very moment near the Gaza border, about five kilometers away.”
At this time, the first publicly confirmed death was Ofir Libstein, the head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, who fell during exchanges of fire defending Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where he lived. Later, it became known that his son, Nitzan, was also killed in the attack. In total, 64 residents of Kfar Aza were murdered, and 19 were abducted to Gaza.
Hamas continued firing rockets while the IDF struck targets within the Gaza Strip.
10:43 – Palestinian reporter inside a Gaza border kibbutz reports clashes with militants
A Palestinian “journalist” who entered Kibbutz Nir Oz accompanied by armed Hamas militants reported live that hostages were being taken to Gaza. He said:
“After walking for about an hour or more, we managed to infiltrate one of the most important kibbutzim in the occupied territories. We entered Nir Oz and Nir Am. And here is the scene before you: we are in the heart of the community. Our fighters engaged in direct confrontations, kidnapped residents and soldiers, and killed armed individuals who tried to defend themselves and open fire on our fighters. A scene like this has never been seen before. We will continue reporting to you on these events happening at this very moment near the Gaza border, about five kilometers away.”
At that time, the first publicly confirmed death was Ofir Libstein, head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, who was killed during clashes defending Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where he lived. It was later confirmed that his son, Nitzan, was also killed in the attack. In total, 64 residents of Kfar Aza were murdered, and 19 were abducted to Gaza.
Meanwhile, Hamas continued firing rockets, and the IDF struck targets within the Gaza Strip.
11:43 – Prime Minister declares: “We are at war, and we will win”
11:47 – Ella Ben Ami, Bnei Beeri resident: “I saw pictures of my father abducted to Gaza”
Ella Ben Ami, 23, described live how she saw images of her father, Ohad, being abducted to Gaza on Telegram while she was trapped in a secure room. Many other families were similarly exposed to distressing videos of kidnappings, desperately trying to obtain information about their loved ones, many of whom had been out of contact for hours.
11:53 – Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari: IDF floods Gaza border communities with troops
IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, in his first statement, said: “There are numerous combat zones, and many militants are still inside Israel. The IDF is deploying large numbers of soldiers and commanders to the border communities. In some areas, militants have fortified themselves inside residents’ homes and are holding them hostage.”
Social media and messaging networks were flooded with videos and reports, some of which were false. The IDF spokesperson urged the public and the media to exercise responsibility when sharing information.
12:04 – Nova Festival survivors describe the horror; many attendees still missing
Survivors from the Nova Festival who reached the nearby moshav Patish on foot managed to contact their families after hours of being cut off. One survivor described in an interview:
“I’m shaking. Those were four or five hours of a horror movie. We ran, everyone was running, panicked, not knowing where to go. Running, hiding, it was just surreal.”
The young survivors reported that they did not see any rescue or security forces on site, except for a single police officer who guided them to a safe location. At the same time, over 300 wounded were being treated in hospitals across Israel. The Home Front Command announced that schools would be closed in southern communities, the Dan region, Jerusalem, and Sharon.
12:30 – First confirmed deaths: 22 killed; forces on the ground report “massive casualties expected to rise”
It was publicly confirmed that 22 people had been killed. Security forces on the ground warned that the number of casualties was enormous and expected to increase as rescue operations continued and more information became available.
12:48 – Brig. Gen. Hagari: “Difficult hours of fighting ahead; we will fully investigate any failures”
IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari stated: “We face difficult hours of combat ahead. Regarding any operational failures, we will conduct a full investigation in due course.”
13:20 – Bulldozer breaches the border; seven hours into the attack, militants wreak havoc in communities
13:54 – Nova Festival survivor evacuated to hospital describes escape from militants
Esther, a survivor of the Nova Festival who was evacuated to Barzilai Hospital, recounted:
“Our car overturned, and we fell into a pit. We lay there for two and a half hours, pretending to be dead, while next to us the driver, who had been shot, was already unconscious.”
14:32 – Ministry of Health reports 545 injured; casualties continue to arrive
14:46 – Netanyahu: “Our first objective – to clear the area of enemy forces”
15:16 – Hours pass and the scale of the disaster becomes clear: residents who requested help are no longer alive
15:48 – Prolonged battle at Sderot police station
A fierce battle raged for several hours at the Sderot police station, as Israeli forces confronted militants attempting to overtake the facility. The prolonged engagement highlighted the intensity of the attacks in the city.
15:48 – Prolonged battle at Sderot police station
A fierce battle raged for several hours at the Sderot police station, as Israeli forces confronted militants attempting to overtake the facility. The prolonged engagement highlighted the intensity of the attacks in the city.
16:48 – Harrowing scenes at the festival site: burning cars, rising smoke, and fear of explosives
Additional scenes emerged from the devastating attack at the Nova Festival near Re’im: entire areas engulfed in flames, vehicles burned as people desperately tried to escape the militants, and lingering fears of explosives in the wreckage.
17:02 – Real-time rescue from the nature party – dozens of Hamas terrorists are still hiding in the area
17:53 – The IDF confirms that civilians and soldiers have been abducted to Gaza – kidnapping videos filmed by Hamas are being released
19:01 – Hostages in a house in Ofakim – residents are instructed to stay indoors.
Five terrorists have been barricaded in a house in Ofakim since the morning, armed to the teeth with grenades and various weapons. They are holding hostages – the couple Rachel and David Edri.
19:41 – Hamas: Dozens of Israeli hostages, including senior figures, are already hidden in tunnels.
While Hamas claims that the dozens of Israelis it kidnapped to Gaza are already concealed in its tunnels, a video of the abduction of Noa Argamani and Avintan Or has been released. Their families have authorized the publication of the footage. The image of Noa, surrounded by terrorists, being led on a motorcycle into Gaza while shouting “Don’t kill me” will appear on newspaper front pages worldwide and become a symbol. Noa will be released on June 8, 2024, after eight months in captivity during Operation “Arnon,” alongside the rescued hostages Andrei Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, and Almog Meir Jan. The four were freed from the Nuseirat refugee camp by IDF and Shin Bet forces in a heroic operation in which Yamam officer Rav-Pakid Arnon Zamora was killed.
20:26 – Rockets hit Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Givatayim, and Rishon LeZion – two people seriously injured from a rocket in Rishon LeZion.
21:13 – More than 15 hours after the surprise attack: searches continue for those missing from the party massacre.
22:11 – Hours after the fighting began, terrorists in Be’eri and Ofakim are still not under control.
Flare bombs over Ofakim indicate that the IDF is still pursuing terrorists, even after dark, in an effort to clear the area. Two hostage situations are ongoing – in Ofakim and Be’eri – and the intense battle at the police station in Sderot has not yet ended, with the last terrorists still at large.
22:58 – Intense battle between terrorists barricaded in the station building and police forces.
23:44 – Blood donation centers opened across the country – Magen David Adom urges donations for the injured.
00:03 – The IDF eliminates terrorists attempting to infiltrate the beach by boat.
00:42 – Families arrive at the Missing Persons Center searching for their loved ones.
The Home Front Command is setting up an assistance center for families looking for their relatives in Airport City, near Ben-Gurion Airport.
01:16 – Initial reports: the hostages in Be’eri have been released.
The Be’eri hostage situation ends, with all hostages reportedly freed alive. Later, it will be confirmed that out of 15 hostages, only two survived.
02:58 – IDF and police forces eliminate terrorists who had been hiding throughout the day.
03:26 – Heavy rocket barrages hit southern communities – direct strikes reported in Sderot and Ashkelon.
04:29 – Calls continue from people still trapped in reinforced shelters, afraid to come out.
04:33 – The remaining terrorists in the police station building were neutralized by security forces.
04:55 – Over 300 people are in serious condition across hospitals.
06:00 – Hundreds of terrorists eliminated in the south – IDF soldiers are still engaged in battles with terrorists.
Israel wakes up to an extremely difficult morning after the deadliest day in its history. At this hour, the number of civilians and soldiers abducted to Gaza is unknown, but it is clear that dozens, or even hundreds, were taken. In the days following the attack, it will be revealed that over 3,000 terrorists crossed into Israel during the “Black Sabbath,” infiltrating through at least 120 breaches in the border fence. Nearly 1,200 civilians, soldiers, and security personnel were killed on this bloody day in Israel’s history. Later, it will also be confirmed that 251 soldiers and civilians, including infants, children, and the elderly, were kidnapped to Gaza.
“Those who worship death can never defeat those who cherish life.” 〜 Sami Bsoul
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