Israel's 'Car Wall': A Graveyard Of Vehicles To Remember Hamas' Terror Attack
A once-empty parking lot west of Israel's Tkuma moshav (or village) is today a macabre vehicular memorial to the October 7, 2023, terror attack by the Hamas, in which over 1,000 people, many of them civilians, were killed and around 250 dragged back to the Gaza Strip.
Visitors to the 'car wall' - as the memorial has been called - are greeted by a stacked pile of burnt and twisted chassis of over 1,500 jeeps, sedans, and motorcycles destroyed or damaged in the attack, some riddled with bullets and others blasted by anti-tank rounds.
Among the mangled metal bodies is an ambulance in which eight people died and a white pick-up truck, which belonged to an Israeli citizen, but now lies crumpled, its frame broken and its side machine-gunned. Some were also the final resting place of their occupants, whose bloody bodies had to be extracted, and sometimes scraped, out of the cabins.
Some of the vehicles in the 'car wall' were dragged from Route 232 (an Israeli highway) and other places in the Gaza envelope, which is a populated area in southern Israel that is within seven km of the Gaza border and within range of mortars and rockets fired by the Hamas.
Most were dragged from the massacre at a nearby music festival. The Nova Festival - a peaceful gathering of music-lovers - was targeted by Hamas terrorists as part of its shock attack that day. Over 250 people were slaughtered; a survivor told British broadcaster BBC "fifty terrorists arrived in vans, dressed in military uniforms (and) fired guns in bursts".
Some of the vehicles the terrorists used, including motorcycles and another large white pick-up with a gun mounted in the rear, are also in the 'car wall'.
The car lot near Tkuma isn't the only one of its kind. About 20km away, near the kibbutz (farming settlement) of Re'im, a second 'car wall' stands in grim and silent memory.
These were the vehicles of ordinary people, and each one has a story to tell.
Vehicles driven by people who had no idea of the horror and bloodshed they were about to witness and, for over a thousand men and women, this was to be their final hours of their lives. And many of those who managed to survive will know others who did not.
The October 7 attack prompted Israel to launch a full-scale military invasion of Gaza, an invasion that, nearly two years later, continues amid global condemnation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his plan to fully occupy the shattered Palestinian enclave.
After the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas, Mr Netanyahu's office said he is set to convene his security cabinet this week to decide on Israel's next steps in Gaza and direct the Israeli forces on "how to achieve the three war objectives we have set...defeating the enemy, releasing our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will never again threaten Israel".
The Israeli leader is under growing international pressure to end this war.
Relentless air strikes and ground assaults have not only pummelled the Hamas group and its terrorist network, but also caused a humanitarian crisis that threatens to wipe out millions of civilians as they lurch from starvation and a healthcare crisis to, now, a severe water shortage.
Aid efforts have been largely piecemeal, hampered in part by Israeli military control of and access to Gaza. Israel, however, insists aid is being countered by Hamas themselves.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Israeli President demands truth after German media exposes fake Gaza photography
Tel Aviv [ Israel], August 7 (ANI/TPS): During a visit to Tallinn on Wednesday, President Isaac Herzog of Israel used a joint press appearance with Estonian President Alar Karis to call out what he described as Hamas-led propaganda efforts, citing recent investigative reports from leading German newspapers that revealed staged images from Gaza. Herzog contrasted these fabricated scenes with the very real suffering of Israeli hostages, exposing what he called Hamas' 'hypocrisy and manipulation."Standing alongside President Karis at the Estonian Presidential Palace, Herzog held up two photos: one of Israeli hostage Eviatar David, a Nova music festival attendee now emaciated after months in captivity; and another of Rom Breslavsky, who appeared in a recent Hamas video. Herzog juxtaposed these with a now-controversial image from Gaza showing Palestinians holding empty pots in front of a food distribution center. 'It was all staged," Herzog said. 'There was food in the next room — the hostages who escaped from tunnels told us this. The captors are not starving. Our people are."His remarks follow revelations from the Suddeutsche Zeitung, which published an expose showing how Hamas uses staged imagery to sway international opinion. According to the investigation, professional photographers — some working with international news agencies — were found directing civilians to pose with empty pots and in fabricated scenarios meant to convey starvation. 'At least some of the images were presented in a false or misleading context," the paper such photographer, identified by Bild as Anas Zayed Fatiyeh, was hired by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency. Fatiyeh, according to the report, regularly posts anti-Israel content on social media, including expletive-laden messages and calls to 'Free Palestine." His photographs have been published in major outlets such as the BBC and CNN despite their questionable authenticity.'Why are German and international news agencies continuing to use his images when many are clearly biased or staged?" Bild manipulation of war photography triggered alarm within Germany's press circles. The German Journalists' Association (DJV) issued a statement warning of 'manipulation attempts through professionally produced press photography." DJV Chair Mika Beuster noted that 'all parties involved in this war — including media and intelligence services — are using the power of imagery like never before to shape public perception."A historian and visual documentation expert interviewed by Suddeutsche Zeitung added that while not all such images are outright fakes, they are often 'positioned a certain way or paired with misleading captions that tap into our visual memory and emotions."Herzog urged the international community to resist falling for such distortions. 'We do not deny the humanitarian need in Gaza," he said, 'but we ask the world not to fall for Hamas' lies. Condemn Hamas and tell them: You want to move forward? Release the hostages."He emphasized that Israel has drastically increased its humanitarian aid efforts, saying, 'In the last week alone, we've brought in 30,000 tons of aid — 30 tons by air yesterday alone. The UN has almost 800 trucks they could distribute — and failed to do so. So a lot could have been done."A special report by The Press Service of Israel on Thursday found that according to the UN's own numbers, a staggering 85% of the aid entering the Gaza Strip by truck since May 19 has been stolen. The investigation found that a combination of black market profiteers and inflation have made much of the aid in Gaza markets unaffordable for most sources inside Gaza told TPS-IL that much of the food in the markets originated from international aid for months — including American shipments — but is resold at inflated prices, sometimes 300%. Basic staples like flour and rice, originally meant for free distribution, are reportedly diverted to private Palestinian in Gaza City told TPS-IL, 'The flour — when it enters Gaza, they steal it. And now they're going to raise the price from 30 to 60 shekels [$8.80 to $17.70]. It's unbelievable."Professor Eytan Gilboa an expert in international relations and media at Reichman University in Herzliya, told TPS-IL, 'There is some hunger in Gaza, and it exists only in places Hamas is pursuing it, not in other areas."In 2024, experts told TPS-IL that two Gaza-based Palestinian freelance photojournalists comitted war crimes by entering Israel during Hamas's October 7 a Jerusalem-based media watchdog, found that freelance photographers Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa and Ashraf Amra entered Israel to photograph the attacks. They then returned to Khan Yunis and went on Amra's Instagram Live account and excitedly shared a video of a mob pulling an Israeli soldier out of a tank, urging Palestinians to join the attack. Mostafa's photos were published by Reuters while Amra's were credited to 'Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images."Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS)
NDTV
10 hours ago
- NDTV
NDTV Exclusive: Sunjay Kapur's Death Not Suspicious Says Surrey Police
Businessman Sunjay Kapur - who died last month while playing polo in London - died of natural causes, Surrey Police told NDTV. Police were called to the Guards Polo Club in Virginia Water just after 5 pm on Thursday, 12 June, following the death of a man in his 50s at the location. "Colleagues from South East Coast Ambulance also attended and confirmed that the man had sadly died at the scene", the police said, adding that, "His death is being treated as non-suspicious". Kapur's mother Rani Kapur, approached UK authorities for an investigation into her son's death under "highly suspicious and unexplained circumstances". Regarding her concerns, the police said that they are in contact with Mrs Kapur's solicitors in the UK. Kapur was the owner of the Aureus polo team and used to play polo with William, the Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne. He became unwell while playing in a match at the club's Smith's Lawn. He was also the former Chairman of auto components major Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar). After his death, Jeffery Mark Overly was appointed as the chairman of Sona Comstar's board on June 23.
Economic Times
11 hours ago
- Economic Times
Iran executes top nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi accused of spying for Mossad — shocking details emerge
Iran executed nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi for allegedly spying for Israel's Mossad, sparking international outrage. Vadi was accused of leaking sensitive nuclear data during meetings in Vienna. This execution highlights Iran's intensified crackdown on suspected spies following increased tensions with Israel, raising concerns among human rights organizations about potential secret trials and further executions. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why was Rouzbeh Vadi arrested and killed? How did Mossad supposedly hire and train him? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why is Iran so strict about spying? FAQs Iran has executed one of its top nuclear scientists, saying he was spying for Israel's Mossad. This has caused outrage all over the world. A well-known nuclear scientist was hanged after being found guilty of leaking sensitive nuclear data. This made people very worried about Iran's growing crackdown on people they think are killed Rouzbeh Vadi , a well-known nuclear scientist, because they thought he was spying for Israel's Mossad. Authorities said that Vadi gave out sensitive information about Iran's nuclear program during secret meetings in Vienna. The case shows how Iran has cracked down a lot since the war, and international human rights groups are warning that there will be more executions and secret its fight with Israel in June, Tehran's internal security measures have gotten a lot stricter. This move is sending shockwaves through the intelligence and human rights communities around the world, as per a report by Iran August 5, 2025, Vadi, a reactor engineer who worked for Iran's Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, was hanged. He was said to have worked with two nuclear scientists who were killed in the recent conflict between Israel and Iran to write technical papers. That connection, along with what Iran says was proof of secret cooperation with Mossad, sealed his officials say that Vadi gave important information about Iran's nuclear activities to Israeli intelligence. The court says he gave Mossad handlers information about fellow scientist Ahmad Zolfaghari, who was killed during the June war. Iranian intelligence kept an eye on him and arrested him in Tehran, allegedly after he met with Mossad officers in Vienna several court found him guilty of "hostile acts against peace and security" under Article 6 of Iran's law and sentenced him to death, saying he had committed serious crimes against national and international stability. The Supreme Court turned down his courts gave a detailed description of how they hired Vadi: an agent using the name "Alex" reportedly contacted him online and checked him out. Later, he met a handler named "Kevin," and Mossad is said to have marked him as a high-value source because of his job and say that Mossad sent Vadi to Vienna with strict security, where he took a polygraph test and had psychological learned about safe ways to talk to people in five different meetings and was told to report on nuclear issues within the organization on a regular basis. Iranian officials say that the payments were sent every month through crypto wallets, as per a report by Iran say that even though Vadi was hesitant at first to send large amounts of data, he eventually did give up sensitive information, including information about scientists who had been execution is part of a larger crackdown after the war. Since the June war between Iran and Israel, more than 2,000 people have been arrested. Many of them are accused of helping enemy states or spying on them online and in person. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran's judiciary, has promised "decisive" punishment for traitors, and human rights groups are sounding the International and Iran Human Rights say that Iran will carry out more than 60% of the world's executions in 2024. There were 612 executions reported in the first half of 2025. At least six people have been charged with spying for Israel in the recent of them was Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi-Shayesteh, who was accused of being the leader of a cyber group linked to Mossad. The rising number of deaths has raised concerns around the world. Critics warn of secret trials, vague charges, and a scary environment for academics and political dissidents, as per a report by Iran death of Rouzbeh Vadi is the most recent and most well-known example of how Iran is tightening its grip on national was an Iranian nuclear scientist accused of passing classified nuclear data to Israel's authorities claimed he spied for Mossad and transferred sensitive information, resulting in a death sentence on espionage charges.
