News of the day:
During a special government meeting marking the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu proposed renaming the war from “Swords of Iron” to the “War of Rebirth.” Netanyahu explained that the new name reflects Israel’s resilience and determination to secure its future. Some ministers, however, raised concerns, feeling the new name bore too much resemblance to “War of Independence.” At the meeting, ministers were shown uncensored footage of the October 7 atrocities, which sparked a debate about the value and emotional impact of sharing such content. Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to defeating Hamas and securing the release of the 101 hostages still held in Gaza.
Later in the day, rocket sirens sounded in central Israel, marking the anniversary with Hamas firing a barrage of rockets from Khan Yunis. Red alerts blared across cities like Holon, Tel Aviv, and Rishon LeZion, where two women sustained light injuries from shrapnel, and others were treated for anxiety. Damage to buildings and vehicles was reported, and shrapnel landed in the Holon area. The Israel Defense Forces responded with airstrikes, targeting the rocket launchers. Four additional rockets were launched into southern Israel, triggering sirens in communities like Sufa and Pri Gan.
Authorities also identified six of the seven victims of the Jaffa terror attack, where seven people were killed and 16 others wounded. The victims included Revital Bronstein, a programmer and comic book artist; Shahar Goldman, a dancer who had recently married; and Inbar Segev Vigder, who died shielding her infant son, Ari. Georgian citizen Ilia Nozadze and Greek architecture student Jonas Chrosis were also among the dead. Witnesses described the terrorists, who stashed their weapons in a mosque before the attack, as initially appearing non-threatening, with one even wearing a solidarity pin for Israelis held hostage in Gaza.
October 7th, 2024 Special Report by Shanna Fuld:
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel by crossing over the Gaza border fence. They brutally killed 1,200 people, including 364 at the Nova music festival, which accounted for over 30% of the deaths that day. A total of 251 people were abducted, and as of today, 101 remain held hostage. In November, 105 hostages were released, and 35 bodies were recovered. Only eight living hostages have been rescued by IDF troops. Countless others suffered rape and torture, both during their abduction and in their deaths. I know this to be true, as I’ve seen video testimonies and horrifying clips showing the way those terrorists treated the innocent kibbutz members.
Today, exactly one year later, Israel commemorates October 7th. Even though it still feels like that fateful day, a full year has passed. I waited to write up this podcast until the end of the day to fully capture the events. I want to take you through the day as I experienced it firsthand. On the evening of Sunday, October 6th, I attended a “tekes” (ceremony) where speakers shared heartfelt words about loved ones taken from them. Toward the end, the CEO of the UJA (United Jewish Appeal) came on stage, announcing that since October 7th, the organization had raised $134 million in support of Israel. He assured the crowd that Israel is not alone.
In Tel Aviv, the crowd cried, held hands, and clutched water bottles, which organizers had provided knowing we would all need them. Music filled the room, and art installations surrounded us, marking the start of the day’s events. By 6:30 AM, I was up and ready for an exploration with my friend Ido. He wanted to show me the kibbutz from his perspective, as he processed and remembered his time navigating the war zone exactly one year ago.
Ido, a reservist and a bit of a war hero, was one of the first to enter private homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7th, 2023. He volunteered to walk in first, despite warnings from his commander about the traumatic scenes he would witness. In one home, Ido found an elderly woman dead on the floor. In another, there was no blood, just fresh hummus on the table. It dawned on Ido that the family—later identified as the Broduch family—had been taken hostage. Defying his commanders, Ido called Hagar Broduch’s father to tell him he believed his daughter and her children were alive. His hunch proved correct. In November, Hagar and her three children—Ofri (10), Yuval (9), and Oriya (4)—were released during a hostage deal. Thanks to Ido, Hagar’s father and husband had hope during the darkest of times.
I visited Kfar Aza multiple times, starting just a week after October 7th. Established in 1951 by Jewish immigrants from Egypt and Morocco, the kibbutz had been reduced to ruins. Homes were burned down, garbage strewn everywhere, roofs blown in, and blood stained the floors and walls. Kfar Aza was one of the hardest-hit communities in the southern Israel border region. Today, a year later, the destruction remains, preserved as if the kibbutz were a museum. Doors hang off their hinges, homes are charred, and bullet holes puncture walls and windows.
While walking through the kibbutz, I encountered news crews broadcasting from the empty village. First responders, volunteers, soldiers, and journalists roamed through what was once a vibrant community but is now abandoned.
I also spoke with David Goldstein, who was visiting the home of his adult children in Kfar Aza. His 48-year-old son, Nadav Goldstein, and 20-year-old daughter, IDF Staff Sgt. Yam Goldstein-Almog, were murdered by Hamas terrorists in their home. Nadav’s wife, Chen, and their three younger children—Agam (17), Gal (11), and Tal (9)—were kidnapped. On November 26th, they were released from Gaza and returned home. Chen witnessed the murder of Nadav and Yam before being taken captive with her other children. David and Chen now live in a temporary hotel apartment in Tel Aviv, displaced from their home and living in temporary spaces for the past year. Listen to the Israel Daily News Podcast to hear his full remarks.
On our way back from the south, as we neared Jaffa, rocket sirens blared. Hamas had launched another attack. We left the car and ran for cover near a building. This marked the first time in months that rockets reached central Israel.
I spent the rest of the day working on Israel Daily News video clips, articles, the newsletter, and of course, this podcast. I stepped away to join an international vigil held at Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv. Many were afraid to go outside, still reeling from the Jaffa attack that killed several people on the outdoor light rail. Despite the fear, people came together to mourn, hug, hold hands, and reconnect with friends. One young man, Yoni Collins, sat by the fountain, crying in front of several photos. I sat down next to him and asked about the people he was missing, the ones who brought him to tears. Listen to today’s podcast, for Yoni’s story.
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