Journalists Recount Harrowing Experiences During October 7th Hamas Attack

Three years after the October 7th Hamas attack, senior journalists and field crews are sharing their harrowing experiences from the front lines. Many of these media professionals, beyond their reporting duties, found themselves assisting security forces and civilians, attempting to rescue strangers and risking their own lives under fire. Some of these accounts have been documented by "Edut 710," a center dedicated to collecting and preserving filmed testimonies from the October 7th events for historical and humanistic purposes. To date, "Edut 710" has filmed testimonies from over 2,400 survivors and witnesses.

Daniel Hagbi, a news photographer for Channel 13, recounted being stopped at a police checkpoint and receiving a plea from a friend to rescue him from Almog, as the road was blocked by terrorists. Hagbi described witnessing numerous wounded individuals, initially continuing to film before realizing the urgent need to help. He described being in the line of fire, with bullets hitting a vehicle near him, and noted that a friend invited to his son's bar mitzvah that day, a ynet photographer, was killed.

Omri Maniv, an investigative reporter for Channel 12 News, filmed himself while traveling south with his infant son, acknowledging the possibility that it might be his last footage. While broadcasting from the Re'im junction, he removed his shirt to facilitate the transmission. On his return journey, Maniv spotted a sniper nearby. He described a moment of emotional breakdown during the funeral of a young woman who was murdered. Maniv was later called up for reserve duty two weeks after October 7th.

Assaf Pozailov, a reporter for Kan, had been reporting on unusual Hamas drills simulating incursions into Israeli communities and bases in the four days leading up to October 7th. At 6:29 AM on the day of the attack, he went live on Reshet Bet, stating, "This is not a round." He received calls from security coordinators within communities, expressing disbelief at what he was reporting. Pozailov reported on hostages, with parents locating their children's phones in Khan Yunis, and described piles of bodies, noting that he hadn't reported on that aspect all day, despite parents having children who were at the Nova music festival. He also commented on the operation's name, calling it "ridiculous" and stating, "It's not an operation."

"Edut 710" is an independent non-profit organization established immediately after the October 7th attack by documentary filmmakers, historical researchers, and mental health professionals. The initiative professionally and ethically documents, preserves, and makes accessible first-person video testimonies. These testimonies are stored in a vast, living, and multi-voiced archive, the world's largest of its kind, intended for memory, education, research, and creative endeavors for present and future generations.