On the morning of October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched the worst terror attack in the history of the state of Israel. It targeted several towns and farms in Gaza Envelope, killing nearly 1200 and kidnapping about 250 Israelis. This tour will reach most of the accesible sites, and offer an opportunity to bear witness, honor the memory of the lives lost, and the recovery and resilience of the local communities.
The day begins with morning pickup from your hotel or accommodation in the Tel Aviv area. As the you head south through the coastal plain, your guide will provide a historical and geopolitical overview of the Gaza region. You will hear about the the Zionist development of agricultural communities along the border, and the rise of Hamas and its impact on daily life in southern Israel. The drive sets the context for what you will soon see firsthand.
The first stop will be at Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, and the battle at its junction. Founded in 1943, the kibbut is named after Mordechai Anielewicz, the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising a year earlier. During the 1948 War of Independence, it served as a frontline post against Egyptian forces. On October 7th 2023 the kibbutz was attacked again, this time by Hamas terrorists, yet managed to secure itself. A critical battle also took place at junction, where magav forces held against a Hamas attack aimed to reach Ashkelon, Yavnah and eventually Tel Aviv.
A short drive brings you to Moshav Netiv Ha’Asarah, the closest Israeli civilian community to the Gaza border. Just meters away from the security fence, the moshav lives under a constant state of alert. Known also for its “Path to Peace” project, a community initiative at the the wall that separates the moshav from Gaza, on October 7th 2023 the moshav was attacked by Hamas terrorists using 3 powered paragliders. They killed 17 members of the moshav and burnt some of the houses. Today, a memorial garden for the comunitiy’s victims stands is set to the border, known for its collosal scale flag of Israel. The guide will share voices from the community, highlighting the quiet courage of families who chose to stay, farm, raise children, in hope of a safer future.
Travel along Route 232, which became a deadly path on the morning of October 7th, 2023. Along the roadside are bomb shelters that became last refuges mostly for civilians fleeing from the Nova music festival. Many of these shelters have become makeshift memorials, adorned with candles, flowers, and names of the fallen. The guide will stop at key points and explains how this once peaceful rural road has become a path of many tragedies.
Next is a viewpoint overlooking Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit communities during the October 7 attacks. Though this tour does not enter the kibbutz itself, the distant view reveals the scars left by fire, destruction, and loss. Your guide will recounts the chilling events of that morning: how terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz, how homes were burned, and how many residents were either murdered or taken hostage. Yet alongside tragedy, your guide will also point to the new neighborhhods built, and the recovery of the kibbutz’ local industries, testifying to the endurance of a community that is determined to rebuild.
Arrive at the Nova Music Festival Memorial, a haunting open-air site near Re’im Forest. Once a celebration of peace and music, the forest became the epicenter of a massacre. Now preserved as a memorial space, visitors walk among various displays and symbolic installations that honor the 378 young lives lost. The atmosphere is heavy and morbid. Your guide will provide a detailed narration of how the attack unfolded, highlighting stories of loss and escape. The memorial is a place of deep mourning and grieve.
This meaningful stop brings visitors to the “Shuva Brothers” Rest Station, a volunteer-run initiative located near the Gaza border. Operated entirely by civilians and supported through donations, this site serves as a warm and welcoming rest point for IDF soldiers operating in the area, including many currently engaged in combat missions inside Gaza. Visitors have the opportunity to meet soldiers face to face, offer encouragement, and witness the heartfelt civilian support that sustains them during long and difficult deployments.
Nearby, the Burnt Cars Display next to Moshav Tkuma showcases the twisted and blackened remains of vehicles from the Nova Festival and its surrounding roads. Each car is a frozen moment in time, once containing also personal belongings left behind in the chaos. While you walk among the cars, the guide will share with you the stories of some of the drivers and passengers murdered in these vehicles. This raw display is one of the most physically striking testimonies to the terror attack of Hamas on 7/10/23.
End the tour in the city of Sderot, the biggest and closest Israeli town to the border of Gaza. For over 20 years, the city has faced thousands of rocket attacks from Gaza, and on October 7th it was attacked by several Hamas terror squads. The guide will lead you to the memorial site of the city’s police station, where a deadly battle took place on October 7, 2023. The tour continues with a drive through the city, showcasing its fortified playgrounds, homes with built-in shelters, reaching a scenic lookout facing Gaza. From this vantage point, your guide will offer some final reflections on the terror attack, current events and hopes for a more peaceful future.
