Israel
Donald Trump to watch raw footage of Hamas atrocities before Netanyahu meeting
The film, compiled by the Israeli government, has been shown to journalists and politicians all over the world
February 4, 2025 11:30
The film, compiled by the Israeli government, has been shown to journalists and politicians all over the world
February 4, 2025 11:30US President Donald Trump will watch first-hand footage of the October 7 massacre ahead of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.
A report by the Ynet news outlet said Trump will watch the film after his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was shocked by the footage last weekend and decided the president should see it too.
The footage first screened to foreign journalists in Israel on October 23, 2023, is a 47-minute IDF compilation of Hamas’ attack, which saw some 3,000 operatives burst across the southern border to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages.
The documentary shows graphic scenes of murder, torture and decapitation, with footage from the militant’s bodycams, will reportedly be shortened to 20-30 minutes for the US president.
Politicians and journalists from around the world have been shown the footage in screenings organised by the Israeli government and Jewish groups.
Last year, the screening, which includes recordings from body cameras worn by Hamas terrorists, security cameras, dashcams, smartphones and social media was shown to members of the Knesset in Israel. Several MKs had to leave the screening early due to its graphic nature, and one fainted after watching the footage.
The video features brutal scenes, including the murder of two young boys as well as a Hamas terrorist bragging to his parents in Gaza that he “killed 10 Jews with his bare hands”.
When releasing the film to foreign press in Israel, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said:“We want to understand ourselves why we are in a war and what we are fighting for.
“What happened to Israel was not just a war crime, it was a crime against humanity.”
After being shown the footage by the IDF spokesman, Steve Witkoff was reportedly left “shocked and appalled” and asserted that Trump "must watch it himself".
Netanyahu is the first world leader to meet Trump since his inauguration two weeks ago. The two will convene in the White House a day after talks on the second stage of the ceasefire were scheduled to begin.