EL AL | Atmosphere

“Before October 7, we were a popular tourist destination,” says Chen Cohen, Sderot’s tourism coordinator, and it still is, as delegations from Israel and the world come by the droves to express solidarity with a population that was so savagely hit. “Our story didn’t begin on October 7”, says Cohen. “Our city is built on the strength of its founders and inhabitants, who for decades have had to live in the shadow of incessant rocket attacks”. These days, there are daily guided tours of the destruction sites of October 7, led by soldiers, police personnel, and residents. Visitors can bear witness and hear testimonies and accounts of the extraordinary bravery deployed by the people of Sderot on that day. The visitors’ center: Hope and resilience A new visitors’ center was recently inaugurated, where the documentary “Sderot of Hope” is screened for visitors to learn about the long history of rocket attacks the city has suffered over the years. The exhibition area presents all sorts of personal belongings that tell the story of what unfolded that day, and another documentary is screened throughout the day with October 7 survivor testimonies. A piece of history: The Founders and Heritage House Inaugurated before the war, the Founders House celebrates the founders of city, people who came to Israel and at first lived in transit camps before being moved to housing estates, and eventually creating a city full of opportunity and dynamism. The exhibition spaces are full of fascinating documents, touch screen displays with music, blasting songs by some of the famous bands the city gave to the world, such as Teapacks and Knesiyat Hasechel. When: Sun-Fri: upon prior appointment Lookout points: The Sderot Lookout, Kobe’s Hill Officially called the Sderot Lookout, this lookout point is known as Kobe’s Hill, in honor of former chief-of-staff Kobe Harosh. The hill offers a 360° view stretching across the Gaza Strip to the south, the sea to the west, and as far as Ashdod to the north. A monument commemorating the heroic battle that took place here during Operation

The visitors’ center I Photo: Sderot Tourism

The Founders and Heritage House I Photo: Ariela Aflalo

The Garden of Heroism and Memory I Photo: Sderot Tourism

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ATMOSPHERE OCTOBER 2025