Timeline of Events – October 7, 2023
October 7, 2023
6:29 AM Air raid sirens sound across Israel. Under the cover of the massive barrage of rockets, terrorists break through the security fence separating Gaza from Israel.
6:30 AM Hamas terrorists break through the Gaza fence in over 60 places, as others enter Israel by paragliders or by sea. Shortly After - Hamas claims responsibility for the attack.
6:45 AM Terrorists begin their assault military bases in the area. Throughout the morning – Kibbutzim and communities report terrorist infiltrations.
7:05 AM Nova Festival held at Kibbutz Re’im is attacked by Hamas terrorists. 364 people are killed, 250 people are kidnapped.
7:10 AM Terrorists enter the city of Sderot and begin attacking civilians and the police station
7:11 AM Terrorists enter the city of Ofakim and embark on a rampage that leaves 50 people dead.
7:30 AM Civilians and soldiers are abducted from communities and army bases and taken back into Gaza.
7:38 AM The IDF confirms that Hamas terrorists had entered communities in Southern Israel.
8:23 AM Israel declares a state of alert for war – activates reservists.
8:34 AM Israel announces that it has launched counteroffensives against Hamas.
10:30 AM Larger military forces arrive at IDF bases and fight to retake them.
10:47 AM Israeli Air Force begins attacking Gaza.
11:35 AM Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares Israel is at war (via Twitter).
12:21PM IDF begins operations to relieve infiltrated cities in southern Israel.
October 8, 2023
1:30 AM A truck carrying 8 bodies arrives at an IDF base in Ramle. This will be the first of hundreds of such trucks to arrive. Israel formally declares a state of war. Calls up 300,000 IDF reservists Israeli government orders evacuations of residents in Israel living near the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah begins cross-border shelling against Israel from Lebanon.
October 7 Sites
Hostage Square
Hostage Square is a public plaza located in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, families of the hostages taken during the attack have encamped in the square, due to its proximity to the Israel Defense Forces headquarters. In addition, it has been the site of rallies and protests during the Israel-Hamas war calling for the release of the hostages.
Nova Festival Site - Kibbutz Re'im
On Friday, October 6, 2023, thousands of music and arts fans gathered for a celebration of life, peace, and music in Re’im Israel for the Nova Music Festival. The Nova attendees danced, sang, and celebrated life. At sunrise on Saturday morning, October 7th, the peaceful gathering was brutally interrupted when thousands of armed terrorists invaded Israel, killing 1,200 people total, including 370 from the Nova Music Festival, and kidnapping more than 250 – 44 of which were from Nova.
Poetry
Between the Fragments of Kibbutz Be'eri
Words: Eliaz Cohen
Translation: Larry Barak
Between the ruptures of Be’eri and your burnt
Jews I make a covenant with you saying:
To your seed you gave, your seed who shall be counted and numbered
according to the multitude of suffering and wrath
like stars ignited before their fall
(O who will be able to bear the wish)
To your seed now an old captured man forgetting his glasses (which are on his chest or his forehead)
and unable to return to the agreement or to
those words of the play
Between the ruptures of Be’eri I make a covenant with you saying:
do not slaughter the bird
Good Day
Words: Tal Shavit
Translation: Rachel Korazim
I want to collect all the donations,
And take them where they belong.
To pass all the messages
To make all the sandwiches
To oversee all the efforts.
But on a good day
I manage
sometimes
to breathe
sometimes
to drink
sometimes
to call loved ones.
On a good day
I manage
Sometimes
to cry.
Prayer for Israel in Time of War
by Reuven Kimelman
Eloheinu V’Elohei Avoteinu, Our God and God of our ancestors.
You know that the Jewish people are one nation with one heart,
And today that heart is broken.
With the grim news of so many of our sisters and brothers in Israel killed, wounded, and kidnapped, we
turn to You.
Harofeh Lishvurei Lev,
“O healer of broken hearts, binder of their wounds” (Psalm 147:3)
Be with our brothers and sisters who have been taken captive
And with the families of the victims.
Watch over the hostages, break their bonds,
And bring them out from darkness to light.
“Proclaim release to the captives; liberation to the imprisoned” (Isaiah 61:1)
Comfort the families of all those murdered,
Bring them under the shelter of Your wings.
Bring complete healing of body and spirit to all of the wounded,
Bind up our wounds and grant us healing.
Tsur Yisrael vi-Go’alo, Rock and Redeemer of the People Israel,
Bless the State of Israel, the initial manifestation of our redemption.
Shield it with Your care; spread over it Your shelter of peace.
Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth;
Grace them with Your good counsel.
Strengthen the hands of those who defend our holy land;
Crown their efforts with victory.
Bless the land with peace; its inhabitants with lasting joy.
Shomer Yisrael, Guardian of Israel,
Strengthen and bless the defenders of Israel
Who stand guard over our land: on the land, in the air, and on the sea.
Deliver their murderers into their hands.
May we see the promise of the Psalmist:
הָָפַַכְְת מסִפְִִּדּי לְְמָָחוֹל לִִי פִּחְּתְַּּ ׂשַׂקִּּי וַַתְּּאַַזְּּרֵֵנִִי שִׂׂמְְחָָה
“You turned my mourning into dancing…
my sackcloth into robes of joy” (30:12)
God, protect, preserve, and restore peace and well-being to Israel — Your people.