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On October 7, 2023, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, the unimaginable happened. Shortly after 6:30 a.m., Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on southern Israel, breaching the border with thousands of heavily armed terrorists who descended on dozens of communities with murderous intent. One of the earliest and most horrifying battlegrounds that day was the Sderot Police Station, a symbol of law, safety, and civil order. Within minutes, it was transformed into a war zone. The story of what unfolded there, and the people I met months later during my chaplaincy solidarity mission, will stay with me for the rest of my life.
A Fortress Under Fire
By 7:03 a.m., a wave of terrorists had reached the Sderot police station. Dozens stormed the building, immediately targeting the officers inside. The first police officer to arrive at the scene was gunned down as he exited his vehicle to confront the attackers. Moments later, a second officer was shot dead as he stepped outside the station, becoming one of the first casualties. Inside, officers fought bravely under siege. Many died heroically trying to protect their fellow officers and hold the line amid chaos and carnage.
Thursday, February 22, 2024
On the 139th day of the war, I stood at ground zero of one of the most devastating battles in Israel’s modern history, the site of the former Sderot Police Station. What once was a symbol of public safety and community leadership had been reduced to rubble, fire-scorched concrete, and memories. But from the ashes rose stories of extraordinary courage from police officers, dispatchers, and chaplains who experienced the unthinkable and chose to keep serving.
This account isn't from the headlines. It's what I saw and heard firsthand during my February 2024 solidarity mission with the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) in a city forever marked by October 7th.
A Briefing from Chief Superintendent Dvir Arubas
Our day began at the temporary Sderot Police Station, established just five days after the original was destroyed. There, we met Chief Superintendent Dvir Arubas, commander of the Sderot Police. With clarity, composure, and pain in his voice, he gave us a full account of what happened.
This map highlights several locations across Israel that were targeted in the October 7th Hamas attacks.
At 6:30 a.m. on Simchat Torah, October 7th, the wartime call sign “Parash Pareshet” went out — an emergency code summoning all officers to respond to a full-scale invasion.
3,000 terrorists infiltrated across more than 100 breach points.
Nearly 4,000 rockets were launched in the first 24 hours.
21 simultaneous battles broke out across the country.
1,400 civilians were murdered.
241 people were kidnapped.
In Sderot, at the police station, three Hamas vehicles surrounded the station. Police officers arriving to help were ambushed. As Dvir tried to approach the station himself, a "driverless" vehicle rolled past him — its driver, he would learn, was one of his police officers who had already been shot. Grenades were thrown. Dvir’s officers, despite being outgunned, held their line to protect civilians and their fellow officers and first responders.
Superintendent Dvir Arubas delivers a security briefing on the events of October 7th.
The Battle for the Station
When terrorists stormed the Sderot police station, it quickly turned into a war zone. The building was overrun. What followed wasn’t just a firefight — it was a battle for dignity, for life, and for the soul of the city.
Rescue attempts were met with relentless gunfire. It took an IDF tank, air support, and a D9 armored bulldozer just to retake and recover the wreckage of the station.
Ten brave officers from Dvir’s unit were killed in the line of duty — each one a guardian of their community, each one a hero. Among the losses were not only lives, but holiness: two Sifrei Torah were destroyed in the blaze, their ashes mingled with the blood and dust of that terrible day.
Israeli soldiers examine the ruins of the Sderot Police Station, the site of intense fighting after Hamas gunmen infiltrated from Gaza on October 7th.
Chaplain Rabbi Reuven Kamil: A Steady Presence Amid Grief
Chaplain Rabbi Reuven Kamil speaks with visible pain about his role and experiences during the October 7th attack.
Chaplain Rabbi Reuven Kamil helped recover the bodies and immediately turned to caring for survivors and the bereaved. A new Sefer Torah was placed in the temporary station within days. He also officiated a symbolic funeral for Officer Roni Gvili, whose body remained in Gaza, and continues to provide long-term support to families and officers alike.
Sapir: Courage in the Line of Duty
Officer Sapir Cohen retells the traumatic events she experienced during the October 7th attack, offering a firsthand account of survival and resilience.
Sapir Cohen, a police officer, was off duty on October 7th. When the sirens sounded, she called her commander to ask if she should come in. He told her to proceed to the station. On the way, she was ambushed by terrorists, shot in the leg, and her vehicle was disabled. Under fire, she exited the car, returned fire, and sought cover in a nearby ditch. Wounded and bleeding, she ran and crawled until she reached an industrial area, where she contacted police dispatch for assistance. Even while being treated, her first instinct was to return to the field.
Mali Shoshana: The Hero on the Roof
Mali Shoshana recounts the harrowing events that took place on the rooftop during the attack
Mali Shoshana began her shift early that morning. When the attack began, she went to the station’s roof with fellow officers and engaged in a fierce firefight. She killed multiple terrorists and survived a grenade blast, thanks to a ruptured water tank. Wounded and alone, she lay still for nearly 10 hours, pretending to be dead, before Yamam special forces rescued her. Her bravery and composure saved lives.
A Day That Changed Me
Standing at the site of the demolished station, I listened as Dvir explained how the attack could have led to the massacre of schoolchildren had the officers not held the line. Their sacrifice changed the course of that day.
Superintendent Dvir Arubas recounts the events that took place at the site of the destroyed Sderot Police Station.
We Carry Their Stories Forward
At SoulLinks, we are committed to serving those who serve — spiritually, emotionally, and practically. These stories are not just memories. They are a call to action.
What You Can Do
Share this story — let others hear the truth of Sderot.
Support SoulLinks — so we can continue to serve those who serve.
Pray for the wounded, the bereaved, and the hostages still in captivity.
May the memory of the fallen be a blessing. May the survivors find healing. And may we never take for granted the courage of those who run toward danger to protect life.
A meaningful moment with Chief Superintendent Dvir Arubas during our visit.
A poignant moment with an officer from the Sderot Police Station who was wounded in the October 7th attack.
Officers from the Sderot Police Station express their appreciation for the visit and solidarity during this difficult time.
The original Sderot Police Station before it was destroyed in the October 7th attack.
After the battle: The Sderot Police Station stands in ruins, bearing witness to the horrors of October 7th.
The Israel National Police insignia from the destroyed Sderot Police Station, now preserved at the Police Academy Museum until a new station is rebuilt — a powerful symbol of resilience.
📘 New Book Release: A Chaplain’s Memoir - Stories from Israel’s Fight for Light
Join me on a powerful journey of grief, resilience, and spiritual strength in the wake of October 7th.
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