Listen to the tour introductionA short audio preview of this tour
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Gaza Border Communities: Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour of the October 7th 2023 Remembrance Route
Welcome to this digital driving tour of the western Negev and the Gaza border region (Gaza Envelope), following the events of October 7, 2023.
My name is Avi Shalev. I am a Lieutenant Colonel in the reserves, having served for 24 years in the Israel Defense Forces, including positions in military intelligence and the Civil Administration in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. I am also the author of The Only Jew in the Room, a memoir documenting my experience as the first Jew to enroll in an Arab Islamic college in Israel — a book now being adapted for the stage at the Haifa Theater.
This tour is a journey through places that became symbols of trauma, courage, loss, and memory after the deadliest terrorist massacre against Jews since the Holocaust. On October 7, 2023, approximately 1,200 Israelis were murdered and around 250 people were abducted into Gaza. As we drive through this landscape, we will encounter communities that were attacked, roads on which civilians were hunted and killed, and memorial sites that preserve the stories of those who lost their lives.
Our tour is a driving tour. It begins at Yad Mordechai Junction and ends in the city of Sderot. Along the way, we will visit Netiv HaAsara, the Observation Point of the Female Lookouts, travel along Route 232 — known today by many as the “Road of Blood” — stop at the protected shelter near Sha’ar HaNegev Junction, continue to the Nova Festival memorial site and the burnt vehicles installation, and conclude in Sderot, at the site of the battle over the city’s police station.
At the end of the tour, we will also stop at a local vegetarian restaurant in Sderot, known for its excellent hummus — a small but meaningful reminder that even in places marked by pain, life continues, communities endure, and hospitality remains.
This is not only a geographical journey. It is also a journey into the events of that day, into the human stories behind the headlines, and into the resilience of the people of the western Negev.
Top landmarks and attractions included in this English self-guided 2h:30m driving tour in Western Negev
For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant () to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place 1
Yad Mordechai Junction Recommended starting point
Distance: 0.00 mi · Attraction: Starting Point of the tour
34, Israel
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We have arrived at the starting point of our tour following the events of October 7, 2023. Here you have an opportunity to stop, use the restrooms, and buy water, coffee, or a pastry for the road.
From here, we will continue to Moshav Netiv HaAsara, where 20 residents were brutally murdered on the morning of October 7, 2023.
Distance: 0.07 mi · Attraction: A view of the Gaza Strip
56, Netiv HaAsara, Israel
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Welcome to the Nir Peres Lookout in Netiv HaAsara.
You can read more about Nir Peres—who, by the way, was my commander in the IDF—on the sign next to the shelter.
From this point, you can immediately understand how small the distances are here, and how closely Israeli civilian life existed alongside the Gaza Strip.
As you stand at the lookout, turn your gaze to the left and look southward.
Can you see the northern edge of the Gaza Strip? If you look carefully, you can spot the separation barrier between Israel and Gaza, running from the Mediterranean coast in the distance all the way to the houses with the red roof tiles—the edge of this moshav. You can clearly see the straight line of the barrier cutting through the sand dunes and marking the boundary between Israel and Gaza.
The built-up urban area in the far distance to the south is Gaza City. The flat landscape stretching between the barrier and Gaza City was once home to the Palestinian towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip. Much of that area was heavily damaged during the war that followed the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and now lies in ruins.
Looking west, straight ahead, you can see the Mediterranean Sea on a clear day. Slightly to the right is the Rutenberg Power Station, a major electricity facility serving southern Israel. For many years, the station was targeted by Hamas missile attacks, even though it also supplied electricity to the Gaza Strip. Can you see the jetties used by ships unloading coal for the station? In the past, they were also used by oil tankers unloading oil into the Iranian-Israeli pipeline that stretched from Ashkelon to Eilat, built to bypass the Suez Canal during the time of the Shah, before the Islamic Revolution. Today, much of Israel’s electricity is generated from natural gas extracted from the Mediterranean Sea.
Further to the right lies Ashkelon, and farther north is the port of Ashdod.
The greenhouses you see in front of you belong to farmers from the moshav. Netiv HaAsara is well known for its agricultural expertise, including seed production and farming in sandy soil. This knowledge was developed over many years, beginning when the community was originally established in the Sinai Peninsula. Following the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, the village was evacuated from Sinai in 1982 and re-established here, next to the Gaza border.
Netiv HaAsara is a moshav—a close-knit rural agricultural community—but it is different from a kibbutz. In a moshav, each family runs its own household and usually its own economic activity independently, although there is often cooperation within the community. In a kibbutz, at least traditionally, property, work, and income were shared collectively. The simplest way to explain it is this: a moshav is cooperative but family-based, while a kibbutz is communal and collective.
Since 2001 people living IN THIS VILLAGE have endured sniper fire, tunnel threats, mortar attacks, missile fire, and rocket fire. Thousands of projectiles have landed in and around this community over the years. Residents used to TELL ME that life here was 99 percent heaven and 1 percent hell.
On October 7, everything changed.
That morning, Netiv HaAsara was one of the first Israeli communities to be attacked. At 6:30 a.m., a massive barrage of rocket fire hit the village, accompanied by nonstop sirens. Three Hamas terrorists infiltrated the moshav using paragliders, and one of them landed near this area. They entered the community, attempted to break into homes, and murdered 20 residents. A broader ground assault was blocked by the security barrier, sparing the community from even greater devastation.
From here, we will drive to the memorial site dedicated to the murdered members of this community. Please return to your cars, and let us continue to the next stop.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
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Download the app (Android or iOS), purchase the tour (either here on the website, or from within the app).
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How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms. Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
Walk at your own pace.
No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
Take the tour in your preferred language.
Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
Enjoy preferred prices.
What's included?
A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay / Android / Android Auto].
Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
Apple CarPlay connection (iOS users) and Android Auto connection (Android users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
Earphones (highly recommended).
Smartphone.
Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).
Tickets to the attractions on your tour.
Food and drinks
Physical tour guide.
Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 2 to 3 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 16 stops, covering top attractions such as Yad Mordechai Junction, Nir Press look-out, Netiv HaAsara - Flag Memorial, Road side shelter, Kibbutz Mefalsim.
Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Yad Mordechai Junction (Address: 34, Israel). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
What known landmarks and main sites does this tour have?
The top landmarks and main sites on this tour include Nova Festival Site, Kfar Azza, Netiv HaAsara, Sderot Police Building Memorial, Tkuma Burned Cars Site and Kibbutz Alumim. In total, the tour has 16 points of interest along the route.
Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!
Driving tour
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
