Photojournalist Reflects on 1000 Days Since October 7 Massacre and Launches New Memorial Exhibit
International photojournalist Ziv Koren revisits the harrowing moments of the October 7 massacre in a poignant interview with Moshe Mans. Over 1000 days after the tragic event, Koren recalls waking up to the chaos and immediately heading to southern Israel to document the unfolding horror. He describes the initial confusion on the ground, where it took hours to realize a massacre had occurred and days to grasp its full scale, with over 1,200 Israelis killed.
Koren narrowly escaped a deadly encounter with militants near Sha'ar HaNegev junction, saved by the timely arrival of Israeli soldiers. Reflecting on his motivation, he says that after 35 years in photojournalism, he could not forgive himself for not being there to document such a historic and devastating event. He strongly criticizes the Israeli media’s decision to censor graphic images from the massacre, calling it a historic mistake that contributed to the world’s fading memory of the tragedy.
He explains that he sought permission from victims’ families before publishing sensitive photos, respecting those who declined. Koren emphasizes the importance of visual documentation as a moral truth and historical record. His documentation project continues beyond the initial massacre, covering subsequent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as the families’ struggle and the return of hostages, including Gabriel Idan in January 2026.
Recently, Koren released a follow-up book detailing events from August 2024 to the present and unveiled a large-scale memorial exhibit atop the Azrieli Mall in collaboration with poet Noam Horev and Diskin Company. The exhibit aims to unite Israelis by showcasing the nation’s resilience and social solidarity since October 7, deliberately avoiding political affiliations. Koren’s goal is to foster pride and collective healing, urging the public to focus on unity rather than division.
