After arriving in Ashdod after dark on Thursday, we got our first glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea on a glorious Friday morning. Other than a bit of rain and wind on Thursday, weather has been gorgeous with temperatures in the 60’s and (at times) low-70’s. Today was different. Some wind and cooler temperatures made it a bit less comfortable than days before.

Lack of comfort was the best setting for what awaited us this day. We journeyed south to the Gaza envelop (territory bordering the Gaza Strip) and encountered rain along the way. We were joined by Aly, a wonderful tour guide who guides our typical tours. Our first stop was a kibbutz flying the largest Israeli flag in the nation. Visible from much of the Gaza Strip, it is a constant reminder to the IDF soldiers of what they are fighting for and that the nation stands with them. Additionally, it is a reminder to Gazan terrorists that Israel is not going anywhere!

Fortunately, families are returning to their kibbutzim to clean up and prepare to move back. Unfortunately, the public is no longer allowed to enter. Families need time and space to make that transition, so understandably, we were prohibited from entering.

We were then taken to a lookout overseeing Gaza. It was a bit surreal, and it was also the moment I suddenly felt the heaviness of what we were seeing and the disgust at what terrorists have done. It would only grow more pronounced.

On that fateful October 7 morning, close to 4,000 young people were gathered at the Nova Music Festival and were taken by complete surprise by the sudden rocket fire, followed by hundreds of terrorists riding in on motorcycles, pickup trucks or gliders.

Fleeing vehicles jam-packed with young people quickly discovered that Hamas had the only highway out blocked in both directions, making escape in vehicles impossible. Those vehicles were hit with gunfire, RPG’s and other explosive devices, causing many to be burned out completely. Add those to other vehicles attempting to make passage along that main highway and about 1500 bullet-ridden or burned-out vehicles ended up strewn up and down highway 232 (and a few other roads).

When cleanup began after the event, those vehicles were moved to a specific location which has now become a makeshift memorial to those who perished. Here are scenes from that memorial:

Every vehicle you see was shot up or blown up during the massacre. Take note of the burned out vehicles stacked in the background of some photos.

Now, on to the site of the Nova Music Festival. It was hard to swallow. Being at the actual site of such a massacre, seeing memorial-after-memorial, and reading so many of their stories was indescribably gut-wrenching. My prayer had been that God would allow me an appropriate grasp of what went on in order to be able to accurately and appropriately “tell the story.” I’m not sure the story can be adequately expressed. I will do my best as time goes by to articulate the trauma that occurred, but words will undoubtedly fail me.

The site has become a memorial with pictures and stories posted everywhere. 364 people were terrorized and ultimately murdered at the festival and another 40 were kidnapped. Uncounted dozens were injured, some severely. The stories from surviving eyewitnesses are heartbreaking:

• Friends trying to shield other friends
• Dozens of people trapped in a bomb shelter built for 12 and surviving grenades because they were shielded by other bodies
• Young people shot in the back while attempting to run away
• Dozens hiding out in and around an ambulance when it was hit with an RPG
• Final phone calls to family
• Heroic first responders rushing in to save lives. (Keep in mind, roughly 3,500 managed to escape somehow.)

On and on the list could go. Here are memorial scenes from the actual site:

I also randomly chose three victims with stories written in English. Will you please pray for these families who lost loved one?

As with the Holocaust Museum, this memorial takes you deep into the tragedy and heartbreak of it all, but it doesn’t leave you there. Just across a small muddy road is the beginning of a memorial section in which trees are planted in honor of those whose lives were lost. One day, there will be almost 400 trees planted in their honor, symbolizing the undying hope of Israelis. They are a hurting bunch right now, but hope springs eternal for the resilient Jewish people.

Unexpectedly, we encountered 3 female IDF soldiers patrolling the area. It was our opportunity to extend kindness and let them know Christians around the world care for them, stand with them and pray for them.

Almost forgotten in the mire of tragedy are these facts: it is “poppy season” and the fields planted and harvested by the kibbutzim are lush and vivid green. They appear as carpet across the rolling hills, just a very few kilometers from the barrenness that is Gaza. Life is lived here!

It will take some time to truly process all we took in on Friday. May we as Christians never forget what our Jewish friends went through (and continue to go through). I’m committed to pray for them daily, asking the Lord restore what the locusts have eaten. He is faithful and still has a plan for His people! Praise God for that.

Saturday is Shabbat, so much of Israel is closed. We plan to spend the day in Jerusalem, visiting sites that remain open. Check back tomorrow for our report on that!