October 7

Today, Amb. Ofir Akunis, the consul general of Israel in NY, planned on showing the 47 minute film documentary of the October 7th horrific killings, to a select audience and invited the mayor of NYC, Zohran Mamdani. The mayor did not attend (clearly, he must've known the contents of the film and recognized that it totally undermined his declared position regarding Hamas). I was privileged to be one of the invitees. The film is made up primarily of the terrorists' own go-pro cameras, various street cameras that were at bus stops or ring doorbells, home security cameras, dash cams from victims' vehicles that were driving through, victims who were filming with their phones before being killed and a few first responders. Naturally, all but the last group showed live action terrorism; shootings, beheadings with knives and garden spades, children suffering, hostages being trucked into Gaza and physically abused by hoards of bystanders, women who were clearly sexually abused and murdered, etc. The responders' videos were all taken, showing the scenes that the terrorists left, lots of horrific blood, gore and bodies, many of which were burnt beyond recognition.

Most of the film was video selfies, taken by the terrorists themselves, showing them to be joyous and gleeful; showing their dead or dying conquests with the same elation, satisfaction and pride as a fisherman beside his prize catch. Wide, beaming smiles and lots of back slapping. There is no discretion in exposing who these terrorists were: they were clearly proud of their accomplishments and wanted to film it, in real time. This was a religious fest, as praise in Allah was repeated over and over.

There was an audio only clip in the film. A terrorist, having just killed an Israeli couple in their kibbutz, took the woman's phone and called his parents in Gaza. First he spoke to his father, shouting with excitement and elation how he had just killed 10 Israelis with his bare hands. His father was praising him, repeatedly. Then he asked to speak to his mother, who was crying with happiness. All three repeated the words KILL, KILL, KILL over and over. It wasn't difficult to discern and extrapolate the way this child was raised in Gaza. Did these parents commit actual murder in Israel? No. Could they be accused of murder? Definitely. They were more complicit, contributory and responsible, perhaps, than the murderer himself.

There was also much radio dialogue between the terrorists and Hamas headquarters, giving them explicit instructions, advising them to behead soldiers and to bring the heads back to Gaza to display in a central square. Dead bodies brought back were to be displayed in a crucified position.

This is the second time I saw the film; the first time being at the embassy of Israel in DC, approx 2 years ago. The film was highly guarded and only select invitations were given. I questioned Amb Michael Herzog, why not show the film to anyone wishing to see it. At that time, the war was waging on in Gaza and there were many claims that Israel was committing genocide and disproportionally responding. There were anti Israel and pro Hamas demonstrations all over the USA. One look at this film and the veracity of its contents would have made a very quick open and shut case. The Amb felt that protecting the privacy of the victims was paramount, and I, respectfully, disagreed. With very easy editing, the faces of the victims could have been made unrecognizable. Two years later, the film is still being carefully shown and I, even more strenuously, still disagree.

The mayor of NYC has never hid his contemptuous disdain for Israel, accusing it of genocide, deliberate civilian killings, deliberate hospital bombings, aiming specifically towards women and children, deliberately targeting ambulances outside of hospitals, targeting journalists, using starvation as a tool of war, and many other accusations of barbaric behavior. In fact, most recently, and despite the fact that the fighting has ended, he is accusing Israel of still committing genocide.

What I find most concerning, as a resident of NYC, is that Mamdani's remarks and continued blood libels will surely fall on the ears of an unhinged individual(s) who may feel emboldened and compelled to take revenge against Israel (and NY Jews are a good target). His remarks, previous to today and his remarks today, essentially doubling down, are incendiary. Domestic anti-semitism has become exponential and Mamdani's repeated lies and false accusations is akin to pouring 100 octane gasoline on a burning fire.

Despite the fact that 9/11 and the World Trade Center attack occurred 25 years ago, watching the films of the plane crashes, the people jumping out of windows and the buildings collapsing helps rekindle strong feelings. What happened on 10/7 is not in the visual mind-frame of the general public. We may have verbal and written descriptions but this doesn't do justice for Israel.

At this time, with the growing antisemitism in the world, with global accusations of untruths about Israel's reaction towards Gaza, with people like Mamdani doubling down on 10/7 and making repeated remarks about genocide, this movie (and others, like it, perhaps more graphic and less sanitized) need to be shown. Of course, the victims need to be respected, but not only is the welfare of the state of Israel at stake, but the welfare of global Jewry and western civilization is also on the line.