National Library Preserves All October 7th Attack Footage, Including Most Disturbing Content
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
The National Library of Israel is preserving all digital materials from the October 7th attack, including the most disturbing videos, to create a comprehensive historical archive. Director Maya Gan Tzvi stated they collect everything without filtering due to the risk of content deletion. The library is collaborating with other organizations and encourages public contributions, though much of the graphic content will remain inaccessible for years. The archive aims to document Israeli history and society for future generations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The National Library of Israel is collecting all digital materials from the October 7th attack, including graphic content.
- Director Maya Gan Tzvi stated the library has no "privilege" to filter the most difficult videos from the attack.
- The library is racing against time to preserve digital content that could be lost or deleted from platforms like Telegram.
- The archive is a collaborative effort with civilian groups and aims to document Israeli society and history.
- Much of the sensitive material will not be publicly accessible for many years due to its graphic nature.
Three years after the October 7th Hamas attack, the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem is meticulously collecting and preserving every video, photograph, and WhatsApp message from that day. The library's initiative, launched on October 9, 2023, aims to create a unified digital archive of the most documented terror attack in history. Maya Gan Tzvi, Director of the October 7th Archive, stated that the library possesses the professional infrastructure to handle the vast amount of digital material, including content from survivors, victims, and Hamas terrorists.
The library is racing against time to secure digital materials, such as Telegram videos and WhatsApp messages, that could be lost or deleted. "We are collecting the most difficult videos, everything, without filtering. We don't have the privilege to do so," Gan Tzvi explained. The archive also includes security camera footage and other digital information intended for preservation for future generations.
To achieve its goal, the National Library is collaborating with civilian documentation initiatives and organizations, such as "Zikaron 710" for WhatsApp conversations and "Edut 710" for survivor testimonies. They are also working with Yad Vashem on oral history testimonies, leveraging their expertise in Holocaust remembrance.
Gan Tzvi noted that while the digital nature of the material allows it to exist in multiple places, the library's role is to document Israeli society, history, and the Jewish people. However, due to the graphic nature of some content, much of it will not be accessible to the public for years, if ever. The archive will provide materials to investigative bodies and potentially for international advocacy, while respecting privacy and the trauma documented.
The library is actively encouraging the public to contribute any relevant materials, emphasizing that the archive is a collective effort. They acknowledge that some may find it difficult to submit content now but will be available to receive it in the future. Currently, the library is exhibiting memorial books and a 3D model of Gaza border communities alongside digital materials from the October 7th archive.
