Don’t be confused…there is purpose behind that title!
Today, we visited the Nova site brutally attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023. It is a brutal gut punch to be on those grounds, particularly if you saw any of the footage of young people trying to flee the ravages of Hamas, yet having nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. Yet, it is a gut punch I believe every caring person should experience. We think we know what it might have been like on October 7, yet seeing the site confirms that, no matter how many times we see it, we have absolutely no clue of the trauma, other than what feeble minds may conjure up. I struggled a bit more than usual this time, particularly at the new exhibit, the “Little Bar,” made famous when video footage of a police officer arriving found only dead bodies as he pleaded for someone to say something to prove life. He never heard a sound. It is hard to see, yet very needful.
The remembrance markers and the posted stories of so many young people dot the premises. Much has changed since I was here last in 2025, and it is clear this site will stand for ages as a commemoration of what happened that day. The Nova festival took place at a nature park near Re’im, only 3 miles from the Gaza border. In a rather cynical way, Israel was fortunate that Hamas jumped the gun, for Iran was planning something much, much bigger. Multiple terror proxies, as well as perhaps Iran themselves, were to attack Israel all at once, overwhelming the IDF with aggression from the north (Hezbollah), the far south (Houthis in Yemen), internally from the West Bank, and from Gaza (Hamas). Yet, power-hungry Yahyeh Sinwar, head of Hamas, decided to attack on October 7, feeling confident their allies would immediately jump in and Hamas would be looked upon with greater respect. Why October 7? It was a Jewish holiday (Simchat Torah), many soldiers would be home with their families, and a very large music festival would be an easy target to wreak the most havoc.
So, they came, first with missile barrages to take out what little military and police presence there was, then by cutting gaping holes in the security fence and stroming at least 6,000 militants into Israel. Others came by paragliders or by the sea to attack the coastal areas (less successfully). Emboldened by the ease at which radical militants entered, militant civilians streamed in as well to loot and take whatever they could from those being attacked.
Nova was the first primary target. I will let pictures tell the story. (Click on the pictures to see them full size.)
Here is a 360 view of the Nova site and the Little Bar:
The story actually continues at the car park, the place they brought 100’s of vehicles shot up, blown up, and at times, burned up. Everything from ambulances to bicycles and everything in between can be found here. The slight stench of burning metal and rubber continues to linger, though far less than my last visit.
It was at the car park we were met by a ZAKA representative. ZAKA is the post-disaster response team that arrives to handle scenes of severe tragedies. It was ZAKA that had to process hundreds of dead bodies and body parts, many of them burned beyond recognition, other so fiercely mutilated it made even those who have “seen it all” break down. Nothing prepared those men and women for what they found following the massacre of October 7.
Along the road, we saw a convoy of at least a dozen aid trucks from the UN World Food Program. There is (and has never been) a food shortage in Gaza. We also stopped at an overlook into Gaza. Honestly, it is very surreal to peer into the distance to see where evil lives. Thankfully, the IDF has pushed Hamas and the Palestinians away from the border and into less than 50% of the Gaza Strip. The rest lies empty, except for IDF bases inside Gaza now protecting the citizens of Israel from the evil monsters lurking in the distance.
(real distance)
Following our visit to Nova and the car park, we made our way back to Sderot, a rather small Jewish city just the other side of the northest border of Gaza. On that day, Hamas stormed the city, drawing a firefight from the small police department. Succumbing to the attack from Hamas, dozens of police officers died in battle and the police station was bombed after Hamas overran and settled into it. Today, a memorial stands on the very place the police station once stood, and signs and plaques tell the stories of that day and that day’s heroes.
The city was terrified and there are many stories of how God miraculously saved those (such as the elderly) who could not fend for themselves. The city was decimated.
At lunchtime, we arrived at City of Life Ministries in Sderot. There, we enjoyed sweet fellowship with Paster Michael Beener and his wife, Dina, who directed our service project. They needed 120 food bags packed, so we did that, then finished off with 60 more smaller bags for a different purpose. We were honored to hear of the work they do to bless their community and those in need (again, mostly Russian-speaking immigrants). What a joy to realize once more how God is using His congregations around Israel to share the love of Jesus!
Our team in action:
Everyone needs the experience of being the hands and feet of Jesus! We have dedicated three days to service and engagement with those ministering the love of Jesus in Israel. Often, I wonder who is blessed more greatly, those we serve or those who serve. What a tremendous honor and privilege God gives us to be part of His Kingdom work. Stay tuned tomorrow when we visit Pastor Saleem Shalash, an Arab brother in Christ who absolutely loves the Lord and shows it day-by-day. He’s a dear friend of mine and I can hardly wait to serve with him once again!
