The Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem hosted the premiere of "The Children of October 7," a documentary featuring firsthand accounts from children who lived through the horrors of the Hamas massacre. The movie was screened for the first time on Monday.
Among those interviewed are Eitan Yahalomi, who was abducted and held captive by Hamas; Rotem Mathias, who survived after hiding beneath his mother’s body; and Yael Idan, whose sister was killed by terrorists who livestreamed their takeover of her family’s home before abducting her father to Gaza, where he remains to this day.
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Ella Shani, Alona Rosso, Yael Idan, Montana Tucker, Amit Atias, Jonathan Riss
(Photo: Arnon Bossani)
Ella Shani, 15, from Kibbutz Be’eri, also shares her story. She survived by hiding in a fortified room with her mother and brother, but her father, living separately, was found and executed by the terrorists as he hid in his attic.
“When they asked if I wanted to participate and share my story, I was hesitant,” Shani said. “I’ve shared my experience in Israel and abroad, but this wasn’t just talking and moving on – it meant immortalizing it in a film that would last forever. That level of exposure scared me. But in the end, my goal is to amplify the voices of Israelis affected by October 7, to preserve the memory of my father, our friends, and the Be’eri community members we lost. I felt grateful for the opportunity.”
Reflecting on the finished documentary, Shani said: “I loved how it turned out. It accurately reflects the reality of children affected by the events. It only scratches the surface, but it highlights the horrors from a younger perspective. Everyone involved did an amazing job. I hope it changes minds because it truly shows what we endured.”
Shani, who has shared her story around the world, including meetings with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone, says she rarely encounters opposition.
“I’ve seen pro-Palestinian protesters, but I didn’t bother engaging. When you meet someone face-to-face and hear their story, it’s impossible to deny the reality or justify what happened. No one has had the courage to challenge what I’ve said directly. I believe the film has the power to reach non-Jewish communities because it offers wider exposure. Anyone who watches it and sees the children’s faces alongside the footage from October 7 won’t be able to deny it anymore. The truth is undeniable when it’s right in front of you,” she said.
Shani and her community from Kibbutz Be’eri are currently living in Kibbutz Hatzerim, unsure if they’ll ever return to their homes near the Gaza border.
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“On one hand, I can’t see myself living anywhere but Be’eri – it’s my home,” Shani said. “On the other, I can’t imagine sleeping there peacefully, turning off the lights and going to bed without the fear of another terrorist infiltration. The helplessness and terror I felt during those moments will always stay with me, making life in Be’eri an ongoing challenge. But for me, it will always be home.”
The documentary was spearheaded by Montana Tucker, a pro-Israel social media influencer and activist who has been raising awareness about the hostages and combatting global anti-Israel sentiment since the massacre. Tucker attended the premiere, joined by President Isaac Herzog.