INDIANAPOLIS — Oct. 7, 2023 at 6:30 a.m. is a time that’s still hard for Oshrit Sabag to talk about.
That’s the day the bombings started near her home at the Gaza border.
At the invitation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Sabag told her story Wednesday, May 8 in front of 300 Hoosiers.
“We know rocket attacks, we’ve known them for over 20 years," Sabag said. "Usually, you stay for 10 minutes in your safe room and then you go out. This time it didn’t stop. It was massive. It was one after the other and the other."
Sabag said she wasn’t rescued from her home until 2 a.m., another time she will never forget.
“We got out of the bus, firstly seeing our friends, our neighbors, beginning to count our dead and understanding how many good friends were lost," Sabag said.
Her story touched the audience, including Stephen Klapper. He visited the area near Gaza just two months ago. He said these are challenging and emotional times, even here in the United States.
“I think for people to understand what’s going on in the region, understand how difficult a situation it is at a human level and to really understand this is an ongoing conflict that is not going to be resolved while Hamas is in power and while hostages are being held,” Klappper said.
“I think darkness around the world could rule as long as good people stay silent,“ Sabag said.
But through it all, Sabag said she still has hope.
This comes amid protests against the Israel-Hamas war that took over college campuses across the country, including here in Indiana, many demonstrators calling for an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.