In this column, Brian Lilley reflects on visiting Israeli communities attacked on October 7, including Kibbutz Re’im and Kfar Aza. He describes walking through burned homes, speaking with members of local defence units, and observing evidence of close-quarters violence following the Hamas assault. The article contrasts reading about the attacks from afar with experiencing the destruction in person. Lilley references comments by Israeli officials and civilians who argue that external critics often underestimate the brutality of the events and the security concerns that followed. The piece situates these observations within broader international debate about Israel’s military response and diplomatic criticism.