ASHKELON, Israel - Holocaust survivor Gad Partok, now 93 years old, has witnessed the horrors of persecution and displacement firsthand. After experiencing the Nazi occupation in his hometown of Nabeul, Tunisia, he believed that moving to Israel would provide him safety and freedom from such atrocities. However, an event on October 7, 2023, shattered his belief in Israel as a haven.
On that fateful day, Hamas militants committed the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, sending shockwaves throughout the Israeli population. Gad Partok, residing in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, watched in disbelief from his living room as news programs displayed videos of Hamas militants wreaking havoc on communities merely kilometers away. These horrifying scenes, reminiscent of the Nazis' actions, left Partok questioning the country's defenses and feeling a sense of abandonment.
As International Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches, the significance is elevated in Israel, home to a significant number of Holocaust survivors like Partok. The trauma of the October 7 rampage by Hamas, which evoked memories of the Nazi atrocities, weighs heavily on the minds of survivors and the broader Israeli society.
During the brutal attack, Hamas militants managed to penetrate Israel's formidable security defenses, resulting in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of around 250 hostages, who were taken to Gaza. Witnessing this brazen ordeal, Partok wondered where the army, the government, and their fellow citizens were amidst the violence. The feeling of being abandoned triggered distressing memories from his youth.
Partok's own experience during the Holocaust is a lesser-known chapter of the tragedy. When the Nazis occupied Tunisia, they sent nearly 5,000 Tunisian Jews, including Partok's neighbors, to labor camps where many suffered and perished due to harsh conditions, diseases, and Allied bombing campaigns. Although Tunisia was liberated by Allied forces in 1943, it couldn't save the lives of those already lost.
Escaping the fate that befell many, Partok's family managed to flee Tunisia thanks to his father's ability to disguise their Jewish identity. They refugeed to the future state of Israel in 1947, a year before its independence. Throughout his adult life in Israel, Partok taught photography and owned a photo shop in Ashkelon, where he displayed pictures of his late wife, parents, and cherished memories. Today, he has grandchildren and great-grandchildren living across the country.
Living less than 15 miles from the Gaza border, Partok is constantly surrounded by the sounds of warfare. The continuous bombardments from Israel and rocket attacks launched by Hamas create an atmosphere of tension and fear. Over the years, Israel's conflict with Hamas has resulted in the deaths of over 26,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health officials. International criticism, calls for a ceasefire, and accusations of genocide by South Africa at the International Court of Justice have followed.
However, for many Israelis, the focus remains on the events of October 7. News channels seldom air footage of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, instead broadcasting stories of tragedy and heroism from that devastating day and the ongoing plight of the more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas. Ashkelon's residents, like Partok, constantly hear warning sirens signaling incoming rockets, causing a perpetual state of alertness.
As the war continues, stories emerge: the pronouncement of hostages' deaths, children left orphaned, and the untold stories of survivors. Partok, seated in his armchair, gazes at the television screen, unable to comprehend the reality unfolding before him. The question lingers in his mind: Is it true? Is it really happening?
For Gad Partok and many others who survived the Holocaust, Israel was meant to be a sanctuary, a place of safety and freedom. The events of October 7 have shattered that illusion, leaving survivors grappling with painful memories and raising profound questions about the nature of security and the enduring impact of historical trauma.
