‘Was Shot 12 Times’: In New IDF Video, October 7 Survivors Say Their Homes Became ‘War Zones’ Within Seconds

A survivor of the October 7 attack that unfolded a year ago said his home in southern Israel turned into a war zone, within seconds.

“It’s your house, where you make a barbecue, host a friend and in a second, it is a war zone,” Shahar, a resident of Kfar Aza said, in a video released by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) commemorating those who survived Hamas’ deadliest attack in Israel’s history.

Last year’s October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity.

Militants abducted 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still captive in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military has said are dead.

Ella, a young Israeli woman, was also part of the video released by the IDF. Seven members of her family were kidnapped and four were murdered by Hamas militants when they stormed into kibbutzim along southern Israel and attacked a music festival.

IDF soldier Shraga is heard saying in the video how he saw three young children killed at the gates of Be’eri kibbutzim.

Home Front Officer Eden said she was shot 12 times in her body. “I was shot 12 times, in my legs, hip, shoulder and left hand. They were all hit,” she said.

“Even a year later, we’re grieving and mourning the people we lost,” Ella said, while a soldier named Raz said that his girlfriend was among those who were murdered on October 7.

Shahar said 64 people in Kfar Aza were murdered on October 7 and 19 others were kidnapped.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday his country’s military “completely transformed reality” in the year since Hamas’s October 7 attack, which has left the country fighting two wars.

Netanyahu told troops Israel “will win” as it battles militants in both the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and prepares to strike Iran, almost exactly a year since the unprecedented attack by Palestinian Hamas militants sparked the Gaza war.

“A year ago, we suffered a terrible blow. Over the past 12 months, we have completely transformed reality,” Netanyahu told troops during a visit to the Lebanon border, his office said.