We saw the site of the former police station in Sderot, where early that morning, armed gunmen were able to take over all of the building but the roof. A few brave police officers defended the area from the roof until reinforcements could be brought in to destroy the building and kill the terrorists inside.

We saw the Nova music festival site, where several thousand young men and women were violently attacked, assaulted, and over 350 of them murdered or kidnapped while trying to enjoy a festival devoted to peace.

We saw the small concrete shelter where fifteen young people trying to escape the massacre at Nova tried to hide. Seven times, Hamas terrorists threw grenades into the shelter and they were thrown back. The eighth grenade exploded, killing all of the inhabitants but American Hersh Polin Goldberg (who lost an arm) and a friend. They are both still held by terrorists in Gaza, hopefully still alive.

We saw the car cemetery, where nearly 1200 cars from Nova participants have been brought after they were scoured for bodies and body parts. Many of these were burnt down to the frame—including an ambulance decimated by an RPG that killed the 20 people trying to hide inside. Other vehicles showed bullet holes where occupants were shot as they tried to escape.

We helped host a BBQ on an active army base near the Gaza border, where terrorists attacked a main command center and burned the inhabitants inside. Except for memorial candles, the site has been left untouched as a reminder. Nine months later, the smell of burnt metal is still in the room.

This is a trip that I could not have imagined making before coming to Israel two weeks ago. How could this possibly be safe?

Yet it felt very safe—mainly because since October 7th, Israel has fought hard to kill the suicidal terrorists who want to eliminate Israel and the Jewish people from the map. Hamas has said they’ll do it again and again, given the chance—and they are joined by Hezbollah, Houtis, and other Iranian proxies.

Sderot and the kibbutzim that were attacked that day are recovering. People are working and shopping and living their lives, as best as they can. Crops are being grown and harvested. Visitors are welcomed to bear witness to what happened and to see the resilience of the people who live here.

There are still hostages remaining in Gaza, and the Israeli people are divided as to what the right course of action is to bring them home and guarantee the country’s safety. Benjamin Netanyahu is no saint, and he bears responsibility for the immense security failures that led to October 7th. He will not be able to escape accountability.

Yet, in spite of the divisions, the Israeli people have come together to defend their country. The soldiers we met were from all walks of life, of many ethnicities and races, and often they had re-upped for multiple tours of duty. Israelis don’t destroy government buildings in their capital, or decimate college campuses. They still protest, but in a more civilized manner. Then they put their heads down and do what’s needed.

One sign we saw in Tel Aviv says it all: Two Jews. Five opinions. One heart.