In August 2005, then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon removed every single Israeli from the Gaza Strip. He handed the territory over to the Palestinians, even removing Israeli graves and reburying bodies.
He offered to leave the beautiful greenhouses cultivated by the Israelis, the buildings, the schools and the hospitals. But that offer was declined.
Instead, the Palestinians elected Hamas, and the reign of terror was fortified. An intricate network of tunnels was built and Hamas strategically armed themselves, feeling emboldened in the knowledge that their position in Gaza meant they had more opportunity to attack Israel.
For 20 years since, Israelis have been subjected to terror attacks and hundreds of rocket attacks.
And then on October 7, 2023, Israelis suffered the worst attack on Jewish life since the Holocaust.
And then the denials began.
In the immediate aftermath of the massacre, co-creator and producer of October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre Justin Kron said he and his team began to see the lies forming in the media.
“Immediately following the events of October 7, we started seeing many on social media say that it didn’t happen in a vacuum, and that what Hamas did was merely the logical result of 75 years of brutal occupation or because the Gazans were being held in an open-air prison,” he told The AJN.
“It’s important to recognise that October 7th was not just an attack on Israel — it was part of a broader war being waged by Islamic extremists against the West and the values we cherish. Hamas shares the same radical ideology as al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hezbollah.”
“But we knew these statements were categorically untrue, so we were compelled to do our best in the first half of the film to set the record straight about the actual history of Gaza and the true motivations of Hamas.”
Indeed, the film opens with a comprehensive history lesson, including footage from the disengagement of 2005 and the immediate rise of Hamas.
Co-creator and producer Todd Morehead, narrates the documentary, which includes expert insights from former Israeli politician Einat Wilf, investigative journalist Ronen Bergman, American-born Israeli author Daniel Gordis, geopolitics expert and retired IDF colonel Miri Eisin and Home of Jesus the King Church pastor Saleem Shalash.
Also interviewed are Muslim Arab-Israeli Sophia Khalifa, NOVA Festival survivors, rescuers and returned hostage Ada Sagi. Morehead is also taken on a tour by residents of Kfar Aza and Nir Oz to see the damage firsthand.
Importantly, there’s a lot of footage in the film that hasn’t been seen publicly before, and while gruesome, Kron told The AJN the team felt it was essential to include it.
“There are still people who deny or minimise what happened on October 7th. As with the Holocaust, maintaining a visual record is vital — not only to preserve historical truth, but also to ensure future generations understand the reality of that day,” he said. “Even now, many remain unaware of the full scope of the attacks, and it’s important that they see it in order to grasp the context for Israel’s war against Hamas.”
For Kron, filming the documentary showed how October 7 has reshaped the entire nation of Israel. Explaining it was his 30th trip to Israel over the past 25 years, he said the atmosphere on the ground was like nothing he had ever experienced before.
“The nation felt as though it was living in a collective state of mourning, and the psychological weight was evident in everyone we spoke to,” he recalled. “At the same time, what stood out was Israel’s resilience — the determination to grieve, to adapt, and to press forward. It’s a reminder that while the country may never be the same, its strength has not diminished.”
Of course, it was important for the production team that the crew and those they spoke to were cared for emotionally and mentally, particularly given the taxing nature of the content they were covering and the visuals they were seeing. Kron explained that they prayed at the beginning of each day and frequently checked in with their families to maintain those ‘normal’ touchpoints. They were also inspired by a command in the New Testament to “mourn with those mourn” (Romans 12:15).
“It’s what we hope this film will help do for many others. Additionally, it helped that throughout the process of making the film, we had a sense that what we were doing was sacred work in honoring the memories of those who had been murdered. This might sound a bit strange, but it felt like their souls were with us,” he said.
For the team, the film serves as both a documentary and a global call-to-action.
“We hope that the film will not only document the truth, but wake people up to the bigger issues that led to what happened on October 7 and to do what is necessary to put a stop to it,” Kron explained, saying one point of the film is to show how wrong it is to portray Hamas as a resistance movement.
“In reality, Hamas emerged from a radical Islamist ideology that that rejects coexistence with Jews and their right to self-determination within their ancestral homeland, which is pure antisemitism … Viewers will see in the film that Hamas has vowed to repeat the atrocities of October 7 ‘again and again’ if given the opportunity.”
Kron explained that this film in particular was very difficult to make particularly because of the content of October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre and the horrific footage that is included in it.
He said that unfortunately, it has been even more challenging because there has been a lack of interest from mainstream movie distributors. Which is why the film will be released directly onto streaming platforms rather than in cinemas. This often means the mainstream press then tends to ignore it, meaning less exposure.
“At the same time, what stood out was Israel’s resilience — the determination to grieve, to adapt, and to press forward. It’s a reminder that while the country may never be the same, its strength has not diminished.”
But the team is optimistic that the film will hopefully be well received.
“It’s important to recognise that October 7th was not just an attack on Israel — it was part of a broader war being waged by Islamic extremists against the West and the values we cherish. Hamas shares the same radical ideology as al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hezbollah. An ideology that rejects democracy, religious freedom, women’s rights, and the very idea of coexistence. Their aim goes far beyond Israel; it’s about advancing a global caliphate under their interpretation of Islamic law.
“That’s why October 7th matters well beyond Israel’s borders. It’s a stark reminder that this is a global struggle against extremism and terror — one that threatens Jews, Christians like myself, and anyone who believes in open societies and human dignity,” he said.
“Our team is hopeful that viewers will be able to empathise more with what Israel is up against and why it is so essential for them to put an end to Hamas’ rule in Gaza,”
October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre is painful to watch at times. The footage is harrowing. The emotions are unbearable.
But, as written on Instagram, “in a time of deepfakes, disinformation and wilful denial, October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre is a stark reminder that some truths are not up for debate. The film does not exist to comfort. It’s not trying to persuade. It exists to document – to ensure that what happened is neither forgotten nor denied.”
October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre will be available to stream on various platforms, including Prime Video and AppleTV from October 3. Follow on Instagram: @october7film or head to their website october7film.com
comments