Photographer Ziv Koren Documents October 7th and War for Posterity

Photojournalist Ziv Koren described his experience documenting the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attacks and the subsequent war, emphasizing his professional and historical responsibility. Koren went to southern Israel on October 7th, finding himself in an active combat zone under live fire. Despite the immediate danger, he continued to photograph, driven by a sense of urgency and professional commitment, stating he would not have forgiven himself for not documenting the events that day.

Koren explained that his work extends beyond immediate news reporting to creating a historical record for future generations through books, exhibitions, and installations. He views his photography as a crucial tool for preserving national memory, believing the images he captures today will be studied in schools for another century. He described a profound sense of mission, feeling privileged to be a dominant documentarian during this critical period for the Israeli people.

His extensive documentation covers the initial chaotic arrival in southern Israel, photographing in Sderot and on the bombarded roads of the Gaza envelope, and continuing to capture the complex reality throughout the war. This work includes the photo books "October Seventh" (covering events from the start until July 2024) and "The Return in October" (focusing on the stories of returning hostages, continuing from where the previous book ended until the return of the late Ran Goyali).

Koren collaborated with Noam Horovitz on an installation at Azrieli Center. Through these books, exhibitions, and installations, Koren aims to ensure that the memory of the difficult events, the scale of the disaster, and the reality on the ground are permanently etched into public and historical consciousness.