Graphic Video Reveals Brutal Hamas Attack in Gaza
CNN was granted access to a graphic video of a brutal attack carried out by Hamas militants on October 7. The footage, compiled from various sources including dash cams, body cameras, surveillance systems, and the phones of dead Hamas fighters, was shown by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to world leaders and US lawmakers in an attempt to highlight the atrocities committed by Hamas.
The video, which is over 40 minutes long, shows Hamas militants piling into white pickup trucks armed with AK-47s. They set up checkpoints, shoot at approaching vehicles, and steal the dead bodies to steal the vehicles. The scenes are shocking and include militants shooting people in their beds, ambushing houses, setting cars on fire, and attempting to decapitate a Thai laborer.
Israeli officials chose to share the footage with select journalists outside of Israel, as a response to growing international criticism of their military campaign and blockade in Gaza. The IDF aims to underscore the extent of the massacre and remind the world of the brutal acts committed by Hamas.
As the journalists watched the horrifying scenes in silence, the United Nations General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce.” However, later that day, Israel sent more forces into Gaza and escalated its aerial bombardment.
The footage shows the impact of the attack on innocent civilians. In one scene, a father and his three sons are awoken by the attack. The father manages to get his sons into a bomb shelter, but is killed instantly when Hamas militants throw a grenade into their home. The two surviving boys, who are around 10 or 12 years old, are inconsolable. The video also captures the panic and chaos at the Nova music festival, where at least 260 bodies were found. Festival-goers hid in dumpsters and behind trees, but nowhere was safe as Hamas militants fired into porta-potties and even bombed bomb shelters.
Despite calls for a ceasefire, Israel has continued its military campaign with airstrikes and has sent ground forces into Gaza. Israeli officials believe that a ground operation is necessary to defeat Hamas. Meanwhile, concerns are growing about the well-being of innocent civilians in Gaza who are unable to leave and lack access to basic resources.
The release of this graphic video serves as a reminder of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is hoped that the footage will encourage support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas and bring attention to the plight of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.