Chilling documents released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, just days before the two-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, have revealed top-level orders issued to Hamas terrorists. These directives instructed militants to commit heinous acts, aimed at creating 'shocking scenes' including beheading victims and severing their limbs. The merciless violence on that day claimed 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians, and resulted in 250 individuals being taken hostage, marking the single-worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.

Operation orders for the massacre, codenamed 'Toofan Al-Aqsa' and issued by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigade, Hamas's military wing, detailed specific instructions for thousands of militants. They were told to 'expel the settlers using their vehicles,' with a priority on 'children and women.' The orders also specified detaining 'between 17–50 prisoners' and seizing 'mobile phones and any carried documents.' Further instructions outlined attacks on Israel's kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip, such as Kibbutz Mefalsim, with the goal of inflicting 'the maximum possible human losses, taking hostages, and establishing positions inside until further orders are issued.'

Sinister handwritten notes reveal commanders were explicitly instructed to ensure attackers produced 'shocking scenes' for propaganda. The footage was intended to be 'broadcast and circulated everywhere' to 'incite the masses to go out and support us,' while simultaneously instilling 'terror and fear in the enemy.' Fighters were explicitly urged to inflict 'as many casualties as possible in every house beheading, shooting heads of families, running down soldiers with vehicles, destroying tanks, cutting off limbs, etc.' Directives also called for the slaughter of entire Israeli communities at the Gaza periphery kibbutzim, including women, children, and the elderly. Plans included 'spectacular acts' such as pouring gasoline or diesel to burn sites and broadcasting the images, along with breaching openings in the barrier.

Beyond the direct violence, militants carried guides for hostage-taking and Arabic-to-Hebrew phrasebooks, which included phrases like 'put your hands up and spread your legs.' Terrorists were also instructed to capture and publish 'photos that explode emotions' to motivate people in the West Bank, inside Israel, and Jerusalem. Orders included 'shoot soldiers in the head at point blank range' and 'slaughter some of them with a knife' while victims were in a 'kneeling position with their hands extended above their heads.' The aim was to produce 'scary images' for maximum impact, such as footage showing 'a number of car bombs that will explode in a building or place, causing terrifying destruction, and a heart-warming sound, and a burning fire.'

A report by the Dinah Project, a group of Israeli legal and gender experts, indicates that Hamas systematically employed rape and sexual violence as part of a 'deliberate genocidal strategy' during the massacre. Former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, 31, recounted her sexual assault by captors in Gaza after being abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. She described being beaten and enduring psychological pain that 'nobody should experience.'

Further documents recovered after the attack detailed instructions for terrorists to film and broadcast the assault, including step-by-step guidance on livestreaming the atrocities using mobile phones, Skype, and social media platforms like VK. These guidelines covered cleaning camera lenses, disabling incoming calls, switching SIM cards, and privately uploading footage if internet access was limited.

The attack commenced at 6:30 AM with thousands of rockets launched from Gaza towards Tel Aviv and surrounding cities. By approximately 7:00 AM, armed militants arrived at the Supernova festival in the Negev desert, turning a rave into a bloodbath where almost 400 young people were murdered, and 44 partygoers were kidnapped to Gaza. Among them were Noa Argamani, who was rescued after 246 days, and Avinatan Or, who remains captive. A widely shared video depicted Noa being dragged away on a motorbike by two Hamas terrorists, becoming an iconic image of the massacre.

Kibbutz Be'eri was among the worst-hit communities, with 101 civilians and 31 security personnel killed, and over 30 residents taken hostage. In Kfar Aza, 62 residents and 18 security personnel were killed, and 19 civilians were abducted. The assault triggered a massive Israeli military retaliation, which, according to Hamas-run health authorities, has resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza.

The plight of the hostages remains a focal point. Ditza Or, Avinatan's mother, dreams of her son's return, especially after his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, was rescued. Noa, despite her ordeal, has actively campaigned for Avinatan's release, providing strength and support to his family. Recent peace proposals, including one by Donald Trump, and ongoing negotiations in Cairo offer a glimmer of hope for the release of the remaining 48 hostages, 20 of whom, including Avinatan, are believed to be alive. Ditza expressed her mixture of fear, anxiety, and excitement, hoping to finally check her son 'all over' and 'hear his heartbeat.'