An Exclusive Look at the Horrifying Oct. 7 Hamas Massacre
The Israeli army made a controversial decision to exclude the most graphic images of Hamas massacring Israeli civilians in a screening held in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The compilation of videos, sourced from victims’ cellphones, terrorists’ body cameras, security cameras, and intercepted conversations, showcased the horrific reality of the attacks.
The footage, titled “Bearing Witness,” depicted scenes reminiscent of a horror movie. From a woman in pink pajamas cowering under a desk and being shot at close range to an attempted beheading using a garden hoe on a lifeless body, the images were disturbing and haunting. One particularly heart-wrenching scene captured two young boys seeking refuge in a safe room with their father, only to witness him killed by a grenade thrown by a Hamas terrorist. The boys were shown running out screaming, back into their home, as captured by a distant security camera.
The video also featured a chilling moment when a group of women soldiers, out of uniform, huddled together in a room, recording their panicked conversation on a phone. Across the room, a Hamas terrorist appeared with his machine gun, and the video abruptly ended, leaving the fate of the women unknown.
Some of the footage had already circulated on social media, showing the aftermath of the attacks, including bodies strewn across the road and young people fleeing a music festival. Audio recordings captured the anguished cries of first responders as they discovered piles of lifeless bodies.
The IDF representative at the screening emphasized that these images were selected from fewer than 150 victims. The compilation also included audio of a Hamas commander instructing his fighters to return a corpse to Gaza City for public display. Additionally, the video revealed hostages being callously thrown into the back of a pickup truck and numerous charred remains.
What struck many viewers were the moments that weren’t immediately obvious. The footage showed Hamas terrorists celebrating with broad smiles and triumphant gestures after shooting civilians in their cars. In one recording, a dashcam captured a car transitioning from normal to a cracked windshield, eventually veering off the road and colliding with another vehicle. The passenger of the second car was already dead on the road.
Another clip depicted a terrorist walking towards lifeless civilians beside their cars. He aimed to shoot them again, but a colleague off-camera stopped him, seemingly advising against wasting bullets.
One intercepted audio conversation between a terrorist and his parents left a lasting impression. The terrorist boasted to his mother about killing ten Jews with his bare hands, repeatedly emphasizing his achievement. The chilling conversation highlighted the depth of his hatred and the disturbing pride he felt.
Outside the Museum of Tolerance on Pico Avenue, pro-Palestinian protestors chanted as the screening took place. It was unclear what their specific grievances were, as witnessing the footage of recent atrocities should not be a matter of politics but rather an acknowledgment of the horrifying acts committed.
As a journalist and a Jew, I watched the footage to bear witness and understand the reality of these events. While the images of Palestinian suffering in the aftermath of Israel’s retaliation are also present in my mind, I refuse to turn a blind eye.
However, I am grateful that the screening did not include images of beheaded babies. These graphic scenes would have undoubtedly intensified the already distressing experience.
The screening evoked various reactions from the audience. Some left before it began, unable to stomach the brutality. Others openly wept, overwhelmed by the horror they witnessed. Afterward, a few individuals expressed anger that the IDF did not show even more graphic footage. A man stormed out of the auditorium, demanding to see images of babies, while another person angrily shouted for footage of rapes.
Later, a fistfight erupted on the sidewalk outside the museum, highlighting the intense emotions surrounding this issue.
What are we truly fighting about?
