Documentary “The Children of October 7” chronicles stories of young survivors of Hamas terror attack

A brand new documentary tells the story of the youngest survivors of Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. 

11-year-old Yael Idan mentioned she “could not breathe” as she noticed her sister killed and her father taken hostage. She instructed her story within the new documentary “The Kids of October 7.” 

Rotam Mattias, one other younger survivor, mentioned his mom died defending him. 

“They opened the door, shot totally computerized all over the place. They threw a grenade,” Mattias mentioned. “It blew up. My dad screamed that he misplaced his arm. I did not see my dad fall over. However I knew my mother, I knew she was lifeless instantly.” 

Yael and Rotam are only a few of a number of younger survivors who shared their experiences with Montana Tucker. Self-described as a singer, dancer, actress and social media activist, Tucker was requested by an Israeli movie firm to interview the kids who survived the Oct. 7 attack. Lots of them had misplaced dad and mom or their houses. Tucker mentioned the kids had been interviewed a number of days earlier than the one-year commemoration of the fear assault, which left over 1,200 lifeless, together with 37 youngsters, and sparked the war in Gaza. 

Lots of extra had been taken hostage throughout the assault. One of many youngsters Tucker interviewed, 12-year-old Eitan Yahalomi, was amongst these taken captive. He spent 52 days in Gaza earlier than being launched. His father Ohad Yahalomi was additionally kidnapped, and died in captivity. His body was returned by Hamas in February 2025. 

Tucker mentioned the interviews confirmed outstanding bravery and resilience. 

“I used to be interviewing them and I am having to look them within the eyes, and I mentioned to myself ‘I can not be the one to now break down. In the event that they’re staying sturdy, I’ve to remain sturdy for them,'” Tucker recalled considering. 

Tucker mentioned the venture was a part of her personal lengthy private journey, rooted in multigenerational loss. Her grandparents are Holocaust survivors. Engaged on a Holocaust instructional docuseries years earlier than Oct. 7 and seeing the locations the place her household suffered “ceaselessly modified” her. 

“The Kids of October 7” may even depart an enduring influence, she mentioned. She mentioned she’s going to stay dedicated to the kids she interviewed for the remainder of her life. 

She is not the one one trying in the direction of the long run. When Tucker requested Yael Idan what retains her going, the 12-year-old mentioned it is her household that fuels her. 

“I do know that if we’re not all household collectively, I do know they need me to be joyful and preserve being sturdy,” Yael mentioned. 

“The Kids of October 7” that includes Montana Tucker is streaming on Paramount+ on April 23.