Medical Responders Detail Trauma of October 7 Attacks
Paramedics and military rescue personnel recount the psychological toll and operational challenges of treating casualties during the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.
Medical responders from both civilian and military sectors have shared accounts of the emergency operations during the October 7 Hamas-led attacks. United Hatzalah volunteers Giti Beer and Liad Ohana described treating wounded victims under fire in the Gaza region and Ofakim, where street fighting frequently blocked access to casualties. Beer recounted entering combat zones to evacuate victims, while Ohana utilized private vehicles to transport patients. United Hatzalah has since provided psychological support to its volunteers to address the trauma of the event.
Guy Montagné, a combat paramedic with the Israel Defense Forces and former member of the elite airborne rescue Unit 669, provided a military perspective on the response. Deployed via pickup truck due to a lack of available helicopters, Montagné treated casualties at the Nova music festival and the kibbutzes of Nahal Oz, Kfar Aza, and Be'eri.
In March 2025, Montagné published a book titled "The Rescue: Oct. 7 through the Eyes of Israel's Para-Rescue Commandos" through Wicked Son. He stated the work was an obligation to document the bravery of his fellow soldiers and provide a clear account of the military's response and failures during the initial hours of the massacre.
