National Library Preserves Unfiltered Digital Archives of October 7 Massacre
The National Library in Jerusalem has spent three years preserving digital evidence from October 7, collecting unfiltered videos, chats, and testimonies to build a unified national archive.
For the past three years, the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem has been systematically preserving every video, photograph, and WhatsApp message from the morning of October 7, amid ongoing disagreements between the Ministry of Heritage and the Jewish National Fund regarding the official national memorial site. Library archivists downloaded content distributed on Telegram immediately to prevent deletion, storing even the most graphic files without filtering. "We do not have the luxury of filtering," says Maya Gan-Zvi, head of the October 7 Archive at the library.
"On October 9, 2023, we launched the October 7 documentation project at the National Library," Gan-Zvi recounts. "We quickly realized that the library possesses the professional infrastructure and advanced capabilities to handle massive volumes of materials, and we decided to move forward."
From the outset, professionals recognized the need to focus heavily on the digital domain. "To date, the October 7 massacre is the most documented terror attack in the world," Maya explains. "Therefore, we understood we must collect all digitally generated materials—those created by survivors and victims during those harrowing hours, as well as those produced by the Nukhba terrorists who invaded the country."
Race Against Digital Decay
Library professionals quickly realized they were in a race against time, as social media correspondence, uploaded videos, and shared photos threatened to vanish from the digital sphere. "For example, we downloaded horrific videos distributed on Telegram immediately upon publication. Who knows if they would be deleted the next moment? We collect the most difficult videos, everything, without filtering. We do not have the luxury of doing otherwise."
Simultaneously, the library began collecting WhatsApp chats—some of which began disappearing from mobile devices after several months—security camera footage, audio recordings, and every detail of digital information that can be preserved for generations in national archives. "The goal of establishing a national archive is singular: creating a unified repository where all materials appear, connecting information gathered from all digital platforms."
To advance this goal, the library partnered with independent civil documentation initiatives to consolidate efforts under one roof. "We began collaborating with the 'Zikaron 710' association, which collected WhatsApp conversations, and with 'Edut 710', which filmed survivor testimonial videos. We also collaborated with Yad Vashem regarding oral testimonies, as they specialize in this domain through their Holocaust documentation expertise."
"The main challenge we face is the fact that this material documents trauma. We are still manually processing and reviewing materials. We must not violate anyone's privacy, nor do we want to release excessively graphic content."
Access and Future Preservation
Given the graphic nature of the content, much of it will remain restricted from the general public for years to come. Maya notes that manual processing ensures privacy is protected and overly graphic media is carefully regulated. However, investigative bodies, families, and researchers can request access for specific needs, including international advocacy.
Three years into the collection effort, the team acknowledges the journey is ongoing. "Anyone can take an active part in establishing the archive, and anyone holding materials can deposit them with us—we urge them to do so," Gan-Zvi states. Currently, the National Library is exhibiting memorial books dedicated to the fallen and murdered, alongside a 3D model of the Gaza envelope communities paired with digital archive materials.
