On the morning of October 7th, 2023 - a Shabbat and the festival of Simchat Torah - Hamas terrorists broke through the border fence from Gaza and attacked Israeli communities, army posts and the Nova music festival. About 1,200 people were murdered, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, and 251 people were taken hostage into Gaza. The war that followed changed Israel and the region.
The communities of the "Gaza Envelope" - kibbutzim like Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz and Nahal Oz, and the town of Sderot - were among the hardest hit. Many residents were evacuated for long periods. Some have returned, others are rebuilding, and the region is slowly coming back to life with the help of volunteers and visitors.
At the site of the Nova festival near Kibbutz Re'im, a memorial now stands with the portraits of those murdered there, surrounded by trees planted by families. It is a quiet, overwhelming place. Visitors come to listen, to remember and to hear directly from survivors and local residents.
If you choose to visit, go with a guide who knows the communities and respects their wishes: dress modestly, ask before taking photos of people, and support local businesses. Many visitors tell us it was the most meaningful day of their trip.
Our October 7th Echoes tour is built together with people from the area. Contact us and we will plan it carefully with you.
Keep reading
- Modern IsraelThe War with Hezbollah in Lebanon: What Visitors Should KnowBackground on the Hezbollah front, the evacuation of the north, the ceasefire - and the Galilee today.
- Modern IsraelIsrael and Iran: From Shadow War to Open ConflictDecades of shadow war, the missile nights of 2024 and the twelve-day war of June 2025.
- JerusalemHoly JerusalemThe four quarters of the Old City, the holy sites, and the modern city that surrounds them.