The 100 days since October 7 have consisted of a vast mosaic of moments, most painful and bloody, but also others moving and unforgettable. These are the memories that will be etched in those who were there at the front.
100 Days of War | Special Project
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>>Until Victory: Key Moments in the 100 Days<<
"We went out to sea and started attacking"
First day
Lieutenant David | Officer in the missile boat flotilla
Lieutenant David from the missile boat flotilla, photo: IDF Spokesperson
"I woke up in my house, in Kibbutz Mafalsim, to the sound of sirens and explosions from rocket fire from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. As soon as I realized that terrorists had infiltrated the kibbutz, I jumped in with the alert squad, intending to repel them and save the kibbutz and its people.
"After a day of fierce fighting, I arrived at my base in Haifa and immediately went to sea. I joined my fighters, who had already sailed off the Gaza Strip and began intensive attacks from the sea towards targets of the Hamas terrorist organization. I've been at sea ever since.
"From October 7 until today, my friends and I have been defending the house, each in his own sector. We don't forget what and who we're fighting for. It is a privilege to serve in the IDF in a war, and we will continue to do whatever it takes until we win."
Israeli Navy soldiers in battle against terrorists // Photo: IDF Spokesperson
"Fighting for fallen societies"
Day 7
Staff Sergeant (Res.) Carmel Frank | Observer
Staff Sergeant (res.) Carmel Frank, Photo: IDF Spokesperson
"I came to the reserves as a lookout in the first days of the fighting. On the Saturday of October 7, which was supposed to be, as I recall, the Shabbat of a holiday, I hiked the Israel National Trail and had just arrived at the Kinneret Colony.On Saturday morning, a friend of mine from Kibbutz Nahal Oz in the Gaza Strip called me and told me that 'there is a raid.'"
"For three days we tried to contact the operations room. During those hours, updates came up from the other operations rooms in the envelope, except for the operations room in Nahal Oz. From that moment on, I was just waiting to be called up to the reserves. Now I'm here, for my friends who fell on October 7, and to continue what they didn't get to finish. It's important to me to preserve the traditions of Nahal Oz, and now more than ever I understand how important my work is."
"Thanks to the finding, a missing person was located"
Day 13
Major (res.) Yaniv Taib | Rabbi of the Southern District of the Home Front Command
Major (res.) Yaniv Taib, photo: IDF Spokesperson
"Since the beginning of the war, I have been going out with the ANU teams to carry out the important task of identifying the fallen and bringing them to burial. One day, I went out with one of my teams to search the party grounds in Re'im. While searching for artifacts, while combing around the party's lodging area, we found a human find near an ambulance that was upside down and completely burned. We were immediately transferred for further identification at Shura Camp. Later, I found out that thanks to the findings, a missing person had been located.
"While we were scanning the ambulance, we noticed an iron bar protruding from the underbelly of the vehicle. I tried to pull it and suddenly realized it was the head of an RPG launcher that hadn't exploded. I called on people at the scene to stay away until a bomb disposal team or police sapper arrived. Thank God, the event went well.
"This day will always be etched in my memory, a day when we were able to bring some comfort to a family that might have bereaved their son, and also prevent a mass casualty incident thanks to the vigilance of my people."
"Invincible feeling"
Day 22
Staff Sergeant Uriel | Fighter in the 7th Armored Brigade
Staff Sergeant Uriel from the 7th Brigade, photo: IDF Spokesperson
"My first entry into the Gaza Strip was after several weeks of intensive tank training, so my team and I entered with confidence. Every fear there is - as soon as you hear the amount of fire and see the strength of the tank, and in general, in a battalion like ours, you understand that nothing can stop us.
"With all the air envelope around you, you feel completely invincible. Above all, there is the feeling that you are engaged in a large and important mission: whether it is related to the release of the hostages or the destruction of Hamas. It makes you do the job as well as possible and operate at full strength, with a sense of mission and a tremendous desire to complete the task."
"The look in the eyes that is worth everything"
Day 49
Col. (res.) Sharon Nakash | Ramach Logistics
Col. (res.) Sharon Nakash, photo: IDF Spokesperson
"As part of my role in the Technology and Logistics Division, since the outbreak of the war, we have been engaged in recruiting the forces, leading them to the battlefield, supporting the maneuver and constantly ensuring their readiness. When I was given the task of taking part in the prisoner return operation, and commanding the entire response of the division, I was glad that I had this privilege. We have done everything in order to provide the most appropriate and accurate response.
"Knowing that you did everything possible, and with the proper humility, for that moment when you look into the eyes of a child, girl, mother or grandmother who could have been yours is worth everything. And the feeling of seeing a look of 'here, we're home, after all the horrors' was moving and indescribable. It's a sense of meaning and partnership in a historic moment."
"First set foot in Shifa"
Day 46
Maj. (res.) Matan Rosio | Soldier in the 8173rd
Engineer Battalion "On the 46th day of the war, we received for the first time the order to destroy shafts and tunnels found at Shifa Hospital. An operation we hoped would come. On the night of entry, the tension and vigilance were at their peak. We knew that Hamas was looking for an achievement, and that our ability to avoid casualties in such a crowded area was limited. But the sense of mission and righteousness of the path pulsed in us. At every step you are amazed by what you see, the depth of the tunnels, the weapons and the fact that everything is inside the civilian area - it is not perceived in my mind until now.
"We were privileged to be part of a historic day for the Israel Defense Forces and the Jewish people, to destroy the Shifa Tunnels and to be in a place where the IDF has not set foot for at least two decades. I think we helped clarify why the ground incursion was necessary to deal with the terrorist threat called Hamas.
"It is important for me to note and mention my teammates and the battalion, who were killed and wounded in the fighting in Gaza. We will remember you forever, you are the true heroes."
Israel Hayom reporter on a tour of the terror tunnels Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip // Photo: Lilach Shoval
"The moment of entering Gaza with a rolling smoke screen"
Day 56
Lieutenant Assaf | Company commander in the 82nd Battalion
Lieutenant Assaf from the 82nd Battalion, photo: IDF Spokesperson
"The entrance to Khan Yunis was accompanied by a 'rolling curtain' of fire by all IDF forces – the air force, ground forces, navy. As soon as we entered, we experienced a number of encounters, during which the fighters acted professionally and excellently and strove for contact with the enemy. We entered with two goals in mind: toppling and dismantling Hamas, and returning the hostages.
At our heads are bereaved families all the time, and we will fight for those fighters and soldiers who sacrificed their lives. The IDF is strong – and the IDF will win."
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