October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack: Israeli survivors recount horror experiences.

When The Guardian Post visited the ravaged community of Nir Oz, Monday May 12, the streets were empty, with no signs of human activities. Only Israeli soldiers could be spotted on patrol.

Recall that on October 7, 2023, hundreds of Hamas terrorists, from the other side of Gaza, stormed Israeli territory, killing unarmed and unsuspecting civilians and targeting Israeli military installations.

At least 1,200 persons, including children, women and soldiers, were brutally killed, while over 450 others were taken hostage by the terrorists. It was the deadliest attack ever faced by Israel, since its establishment in 1948.

Nearly two years after the bloody attack, survivors and victims who fled most of the affected communities, are still groaning, while counting their losses.

The survivors who don't hesitate a second to lay curses on Hamas terrorists, are currently demanding the release of hostages still being held by the captors.

Dark memories from survivors

One of the survivors, Ola Metzger, who narrowly escaped being killed, told The Guardian Post that memories of the invasion are still very fresh in her mind.

Though fortunate to have survived the attack, alongside her husband and kids, Metzger remains traumatised, hoping something is done, and urgently too, to bring peace to the ravaged region. 

Now living 15-minute drive away from her former community, Nir Oz Metzger, says the Hamas terrorist attack was senseless.

She told The Guardian Post that: "Kibut [community] was considered a peaceful place, which promotes peace- two State solution and peace between Palestinians and Israel". 

She continued that: "On October 7, 2023, about 500 people invaded Nir Oz from Gaza, 2 km away. At 6:30a.m; in the morning of that day, rocket alarms went off. My husband and I took the kids and my niece to the safe room [special protection areas in Israeli homes]. We were five at home that day. At about 7:30 a.m., messages entered our phones via WhatsApp, indicating there were terrorists next to the clinic, who were dressed like soldiers and carrying weapons".

She added: "…when the terrorists entered here, the first thing they did was that they shot and destroyed the ambulance…so people couldn't be rushed to hospital. When we read the first messages, my husband locked the door…we stayed in the safe room until 4:30 p.m, until the army unit came and rescued us. During those hours in the safe room, terrorists came to our house…we were lucky because they didn't shoot or burn our house. They took what they wanted and destroyed some of our belongings. My neighbous’ houses were burned with people inside…170 people in our community of 400, were either killed or kidnapped…76 were kidnapped on that day, among them my father and mother-in laws. She was released after 53 days and my father-in-law stayed in the tunnels of Hamas terrorist, for another few months. He was murdered by captors in the tunnels with five other hostages. Their bodies were discovered later and brought back to Israel, last August. We have 59 hostages left and we see it as the main mission of our government to release them. Fourteen out of the 59 are from Nir Oz… as far as we know, five are alive”. 

She added: "There was no army here until 1:30 p.m. or so. The terrorists came very early in the morning with rockets...they came from the southern and northern gates. Not a single bullet was shot by Israeli soldiers. They didn't succeed to arrive here on time. One of the reasons is because the situation happened at the same time all over the place-from the Nova festival to the northern villages. So, the army had difficulties arriving here on time". 

Horror at festival village

During their attacks, the Hamas terrorists, she said, also targeted the venue of the Nova music festival in Re'im, near the border with Gaza. At the festival ground, nearly 4,000 people were in attendance, when the terrorists stormed the venue.

One woman who attended the festival and survived the attack, Mazal Tazazo, said it was the most horrific experience she ever encountered.

Mazal, originally from Ethiopia, recounted: "I was at the festival with my friends…suddenly, we began hearing rockets sounds…we were informed by the police to leave the area. I struggled to escape, but others were not fortunate".

At the Festival Village, 393 people were killed, while 44 others were taken hostage by the militiamen.

"It was not just a massacre. We have evidence of women who were brutally raped...people were shot in their intimate places. Women and men who were hiding behind rocks and trees were watching and seeing other people kidnapped, murdered, raped...the scenes were horrific," noted another victim.

By Mua Patrick, near Gaza Strip

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3447 of Tuesday May 13, 2025