The Kfar Aza kibbutz in Israel was left devastated after Hamas militants attacked from the Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers were on the ground, removing the bodies of both Israeli residents and Hamas militants. The foreign press was taken through the site, which was one of the hardest hit areas. The air was heavy with the stench of bodies as reporters walked through the kibbutz.

Israeli Major General Itai Veruv expressed his horror at the scene, describing it as a massacre and an act of terror. He compared it to the pogroms in Europe and other historical atrocities. The bodies of residents and militants were scattered throughout the kibbutz, with one resident covered by a purple sheet outside their house. The gunmen’s bodies were also found face down on the ground, and the destroyed gate showed where they had entered.

The militants went on a rampage, killing hundreds of Israelis and taking hostages in places like Kfar Aza. Many houses were destroyed, with collapsed and burned walls. Israeli troops were working to retrieve civilian bodies in body bags, but they had to navigate through ongoing fighting and booby-traps. One soldier urged the world to see what had happened.

The soldiers continued to secure the paths of the kibbutz, which had single-storey houses, palm trees, and banana plants. Gunfire and explosions could still be heard in the distance, and jets flew overhead while smoke rose from Gaza. Sirens warned of incoming rockets. The death toll from the Hamas attacks had reached 900, with most of the victims being civilians. Scores of Israelis were taken hostage and paraded through the streets. In response, Israeli strikes in Gaza had killed at least 770 people and flattened entire districts.

The article was written by Michael Georgy and edited by Alexandra Hudson and Nick Macfie. The Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles were followed in the reporting of this article.