On October 7, 2023, a coordinated attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel escalated to unprecedented violence, marking a tragic day in the country’s history. The assault has been defined as the largest single massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. According to the UK Parliament’s 7 October Parliamentary Commission Report, released recently, the attack resulted in the loss of 1,182 innocent lives, making it the deadliest per capita terrorist attack in the world, with just over 1 in every 10,000 Israelis killed.
The report, authored by British historian Andrew Roberts and a group of lawmakers, spans 315 pages and includes compelling testimony and details of the horrific events that unfolded during the attack, including a memorial to each victim. Tragically, the youngest victim was a mere 14 hours old, a baby girl named Naama Abu Rashed, who was killed when her mother was shot on the way to the hospital to give birth. The oldest victim was 92-year-old Holocaust survivor Moshe Ridler, who was killed on Kibbutz Holit.
Reports indicate that over 4,000 people sustained injuries as a result of the attacks, which involved an estimated 3,800 elite forces from Hamas, specifically the Nukhba and Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades, supported by 2,200 individuals from other armed groups and civilians from Gaza. The terrorist onslaught consisted of massive rocket barrages and physical infiltration into Israeli communities, festivals, and military installations.
In his note of introduction to the report, Roberts stressed the importance of providing factual clarity to counter the denial of these atrocities, which some British politicians have tried to obscure. He stated, "As a Gentile, I believe that it is vital to prevent the emergence of another, more modern version of Holocaust denial, namely 7 October denial. After the Holocaust, non-Jews like me owe the Jewish people nothing less." This sense of obligation underlines the report's aim to document the suffering and the historical significance of the event.
The report also addresses the experiences of British citizens during the attacks, specifically focusing on 18 nationals killed and the plight of four additional hostages with strong British ties. One poignant example is that of Eli Sharabi, who lost his British wife and two daughters in the massacre. Recently freed after nearly 500 days in captivity, Sharabi now faces life without his family. Notably, Or Lifshitz remains unaccounted for, with calls for his release ongoing.
The horrifying impact of this event was not limited to Israel alone, as examined in other narratives surrounding the attack. In a new Spanish-language docuseries titled "Testigos del Terror," the experiences of Latin American immigrants to Israel who were directly affected by the tragedy are explored. The project, produced by the American organization Fuente Latina, presents personal stories, highlighting the human cost of the 7 October attacks.
In this series, one interviewee, Natalia Casarotti, shared her harrowing experience searching for her 21-year-old son, Keshet, after he went missing during the attack at the Supernova music festival. “For 24 hours, I told them the truth: I did not know where my son is,” she expressed through tears, recounting the anguish of her wait. Sadly, Keshet was one of the 364 people killed at the festival that day.
The docuseries aims not only to present these heartbreaking individual stories but also to contextualize the broader implications of the violence for the Latino community in Israel. Leah Soibel, the CEO of Fuente Latina, noted the intent to reshape public opinion among Spanish-speaking audiences who often lack information about Israel and the events of October 7. She argued that many Hispanics do not hold strong opinions on Israel, presenting an opportunity to foster understanding and build relationships.
Each episode features not just testimonies from survivors but also historical footage, linking the experiences of deceased victims and survivors to the larger narrative of Latin immigration to Israel. It underscores the tragedy of finding oneself in a better land, only to face horrific violence.
The docuseries captures the stories of those like Arie Glazberg, who lost his daughter Noa on the same day. “Every second, I miss her,” he expressed in his heartbreaking interview. The series also highlights the Bibas family, whose children Ariel and Kfir became symbols of the hostage crisis. Amid stark personal tragedies, the filmmakers have woven a narrative that seeks to resonate culturally with the Latin audience.
While the war against Hamas has claimed lives on both sides, with the Gaza Health Ministry asserting that over 48,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict escalated, the focus on victim narratives in the docuseries underscores the importance of humanizing those lost and displaced in the chaos of war.
In summary, the horrors of that fateful day in October have not only left lasting scars on the Israeli landscape but have also reverberated across communities around the world, particularly through the lens of those who identify with the stories of struggle and survival. As the world grapples with the reality of these events, both reports and documentaries like "Testigos del Terror" serve as crucial reminders of the enduring human cost of conflict.
