The book "Testimonies Without Boundaries: Israel: October 7th 2023", by journalist and social activist Alon Penzel, which documents the atrocities of the October 7 massacre, is now available in Portuguese. The book includes detailed and uncensored testimonies from survivors, rescue teams, and forensic experts, ensuring that the crimes committed by the terrorist group Hamas are not erased by international denial. Endorsed by the President of Israel and distributed globally by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the publication has become an international bestseller and has been translated into multiple languages.

With the Portuguese version now accessible, Penzel reinforces his commitment to bringing the truth to as many people as possible. “This book should be found in every house around the world, regardless of our religion or nationally, so we can commemorate what happened for future generations. We owe it to the victims and their families”, he stated.

The Portuguese edition of the book is available on Amazon.

Check out Alon Penzel’s interview with PJN

When did you decide to turn the accounts of the survivors and witnesses of October 7 into a book?

- Right after the massacre, and as the grandson of a holocaust survivor, I immediately foresaw the worldwide denial that we would face among the international community. I decided to take action and start documenting the most specific, elaborated, verified and unfiltered details of the brutal atrocities myself, and create a historical book that would commemorate the victims and their testimonies for generations to come. It was also clear to me that in order to fight the denial of the attack, I would need to provide the world with both the most graphic and exclusive testimonies of the horrors, without any censorship - and so I did.

How was the process of writing the book and gathering the material?

- I was collecting and documenting the testimonies myself. I conducted a series of personal interviews with Nova survivors, ZAKA volunteers, Israel's Medical Forensic Institute officials and more. It was crucial for me to ensure I covered every aspect of the attack: From the party to the Kibbutzim and the deadly roads, from sexual assault of both men and women to abuse of children and elderly. The mental process of both conducting the interviews and writing the book was extremely challenging. I was exposed to the most graphic and ruthless atrocities: Children and teenagers who were tortured to death, men and elderly who were crucified and nailed in their own homes, young women who were gang-raped. While the images are still in my mind and my mental health has for sure been compromised, I always remind myself that I'm fighting for a greater cause. I know how crucial my work and my mission are, and I won't stop fighting to achieve my goals, regardless of the personal consequences.

Did you encounter any resistance when collecting the testimonies?

- I definitely encountered some resistance while collecting the testimonies. At first, I had to convince the survivors and rescue&medical teams to be interviewed, and once they agreed, I had to insist on them sharing with me the very graphic and brutal details of what they had seen, of the horrors they had just experienced. Sometimes I had to ask insensitive questions to get to the bottom of what had happened, to ensure I obtained all the details of as many testimonies as possible. It was emotional for both sides, but also necessary and unavoidable.

Into how many languages has the book been translated? Do you have an estimate of the number of readers so far?

- The book has been endorsed by Israel's State President, and has been globally distributed by Israel's Foreign Ministry. After becoming an international best-seller and reaching the top spot of several Amazon lists - the book has been translated into Portuguese, Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Italian and more (English and Hebrew as well, of course). The book cover has even been displayed on Times Square's huge screens in Manhattan, NYC - to raise awareness to the atrocities of the massacre. As its author, and since the book was out, I have been on a world-tour to expose the international community to the horrors of October 7th. I have spoken in parliaments, embassies and global conferences, in front of world leaders, congressmen, diplomats, journalists, elected officials and campus students - fighting the denial of the attack and the rise of antisemitism, and calling for the immediate release of our hostages. I have stood all by myself in huge pro-Hamas rallies, proudly raising the Israeli flag, ensuring the truth is heard also where and when it seems impossible. Last October, the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Parliament addressed Congress by quoting a full testimony from the book. I'm most genuinely convinced, that this book should be found in every house around the world, regardless of our religion or nationally - So we can commemorate what happened for future generations. We owe it to the victims and their families. I'm calling anyone who is reading this to get the book, spread the word, and speak up.

Are there any plans to adapt the book into a documentary or another form of media?

- I am definitely considering this as an option, I will do whatever is required to spread the word and fight for Israel and its people. 

Can you recall what you were doing on October 7 and what was the first thing that came to your mind when you heard about the massacre?

- In the morning, when the massacre began, I immediately felt it was something that we had never experienced before. At first, the magnitude of the events wasn't clear, but it didn't take long until I realized how severe the situation was. I was in Israel, already creating social and media content to send out for the world to see what was happening, while still trying to comprehend the catastrophe myself.

Some hostages are being released as part of the agreement between Israel and Hamas. Are you considering a second edition of the book?

- I will for sure keep working on getting more testimonies out to the world, in every way possible. But first and foremost, we need to make sure we bring all the remaining hostages back home, and we must do it now. It is not just a statement or a slogan - It's our moral duty.

About the author

Alon Penzel (23) is an Israeli spokesperson, best-selling author, journalist, social activist, TV anchor and an international speaker. He served as the IDF spokesperson for the foreign press in the Unit for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), and is currently representing the State of Israel in the international arena at global conferences, events, and lectures. Penzel won the prestigious "Ramon Award" for excellence and leadership after publishing his first book at the age of sixteen.