What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rescue: October 7 through the Eyes of Israel's Para-Rescue Commandos
Bestseller in Israel
A gripping, unprecedented account of the battles on October 7 and beyond, as never told before.
“The Rescue is a story of bravery and inner strength that will captivate your heart, soul, and mind from the first page, leaving an indelible mark even long after you’ve finished reading.” —Elyezer Shkedy, Former Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force
On the morning of October 7, as news began to emerge about the scale of the attack, Guy found himself in the first vehicle leaving unit 669’s base, heading toward the invaded communities. He and his team combated terrorists on the roads of the Gaza envelope, encountered scenes of horror at the Nova Festival site, rescued wounded civilians under heavy fire in Kfar Azza and Be’eri, and fought in the ongoing battles in the Gaza Strip.
The soldiers of the combat rescue unit, one of the four elite units of the IDF, are highly trained to act and respond in every scenario, even those that are beyond imagination. However, since the attack on Israel began, and throughout the war, the unit’s squads, operating in helicopters and special vehicles, have been compelled to confront their deepest fears amid relentless fire, massive casualties, and unfathomable dilemmas.
This is the first narrative of its kind, told by those who stepped forward without childhood friends who awoke to a terrorist attack and fought against all odds; troops who stormed in to liberate communities occupied by Hamas; reservists who decided to head south on their own, saving countless lives; and commanders who refused to leave their soldiers on the battlefield, even after being wounded.
The Rescue takes the reader on an extraordinary journey into combat—from fear and heroism to pain and hope—and offers an unfiltered look at the stories of the battle, as they have never been told before.
A gripping, unprecedented account of the battles on October 7 and beyond, as never told before.
“The Rescue is a story of bravery and inner strength that will captivate your heart, soul, and mind from the first page, leaving an indelible mark even long after you’ve finished reading.” —Elyezer Shkedy, Former Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force
On the morning of October 7, as news began to emerge about the scale of the attack, Guy found himself in the first vehicle leaving unit 669’s base, heading toward the invaded communities. He and his team combated terrorists on the roads of the Gaza envelope, encountered scenes of horror at the Nova Festival site, rescued wounded civilians under heavy fire in Kfar Azza and Be’eri, and fought in the ongoing battles in the Gaza Strip.
The soldiers of the combat rescue unit, one of the four elite units of the IDF, are highly trained to act and respond in every scenario, even those that are beyond imagination. However, since the attack on Israel began, and throughout the war, the unit’s squads, operating in helicopters and special vehicles, have been compelled to confront their deepest fears amid relentless fire, massive casualties, and unfathomable dilemmas.
This is the first narrative of its kind, told by those who stepped forward without childhood friends who awoke to a terrorist attack and fought against all odds; troops who stormed in to liberate communities occupied by Hamas; reservists who decided to head south on their own, saving countless lives; and commanders who refused to leave their soldiers on the battlefield, even after being wounded.
The Rescue takes the reader on an extraordinary journey into combat—from fear and heroism to pain and hope—and offers an unfiltered look at the stories of the battle, as they have never been told before.
272 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 16, 2026
Guy M.’s The Rescue: October 7 Through the Eyes of Israel’s Para-Rescue Commandos is a deeply harrowing and profoundly moving account of the events of 7 October 2023 and their aftermath. It is a difficult book to read, but one that brings the human reality of that day into devastating focus.
One of the things that made the book particularly immediate for me was its sense of place. Guy describes locations I have personally visited, including the parking lot of the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. Knowing these places makes the events feel less like something happening in a distant country and more immediate and real.
The descriptions of the murders are horrific. Guy recounts the bodies and remains he encounters as a rescuer, including a soldier whose head had been cut off and the body of a young, beautiful female soldier. But even these individual scenes are surpassed in horror when Guy and the other rescuers enter the massacred kibbutzim. They encounter piles of dead bodies—men, women and children—and asphalt stained with blood. Reading about the rescuers moving through these communities and discovering the aftermath is almost unbearable. The sheer scale of what they witnessed is difficult to comprehend.
The significance of 7 October is also impossible to ignore. Around 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led attacks, and the day has been described as the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. Yet the book prevents that figure from remaining merely a statistic. Through Guy’s experiences, we encounter the individual human beings behind the number: soldiers, families, children, young people and ordinary civilians whose lives were violently taken.
Perhaps one of the book’s most striking qualities is the portrait it gives of Israeli people. Guy depicts Israelis as exceptionally warm, caring and life-affirming. That human portrait was particularly meaningful to me because it contrasts so sharply with negative or hostile portrayals of Israelis that I have encountered elsewhere. Here, Israelis are not abstractions in a political argument; they are people who love their families, care for strangers, help one another and value life.
There is an especially painful irony in the accounts of Israelis who had helped Gazans. Some Israelis had taken people from Gaza to Israeli hospitals so that they could receive medical treatment that was better than what was available to them in Gaza. The fact that Israelis who had extended such humanitarian assistance were themselves among those murdered on 7 October makes the events even more tragic.
What stayed with me most strongly is the contrast between the extraordinary brutality Guy witnesses and the humanity of the people trying to save lives in its aftermath. The book is not simply an account of a massacre; it is also an account of courage, compassion and the determination of rescuers to find and save whoever they could.
The Rescue is painful, shocking and at times extremely difficult to read. But it is precisely because of its human detail that the book is so powerful. It takes an event that can easily become reduced to political arguments and statistics and restores the individual people at its centre. For me, it is a profoundly affecting account of 7 October and of the Israeli people who endured it, survived it and responded to it.
::
One of the things that made the book particularly immediate for me was its sense of place. Guy describes locations I have personally visited, including the parking lot of the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. Knowing these places makes the events feel less like something happening in a distant country and more immediate and real.
The descriptions of the murders are horrific. Guy recounts the bodies and remains he encounters as a rescuer, including a soldier whose head had been cut off and the body of a young, beautiful female soldier. But even these individual scenes are surpassed in horror when Guy and the other rescuers enter the massacred kibbutzim. They encounter piles of dead bodies—men, women and children—and asphalt stained with blood. Reading about the rescuers moving through these communities and discovering the aftermath is almost unbearable. The sheer scale of what they witnessed is difficult to comprehend.
The significance of 7 October is also impossible to ignore. Around 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led attacks, and the day has been described as the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. Yet the book prevents that figure from remaining merely a statistic. Through Guy’s experiences, we encounter the individual human beings behind the number: soldiers, families, children, young people and ordinary civilians whose lives were violently taken.
Perhaps one of the book’s most striking qualities is the portrait it gives of Israeli people. Guy depicts Israelis as exceptionally warm, caring and life-affirming. That human portrait was particularly meaningful to me because it contrasts so sharply with negative or hostile portrayals of Israelis that I have encountered elsewhere. Here, Israelis are not abstractions in a political argument; they are people who love their families, care for strangers, help one another and value life.
There is an especially painful irony in the accounts of Israelis who had helped Gazans. Some Israelis had taken people from Gaza to Israeli hospitals so that they could receive medical treatment that was better than what was available to them in Gaza. The fact that Israelis who had extended such humanitarian assistance were themselves among those murdered on 7 October makes the events even more tragic.
What stayed with me most strongly is the contrast between the extraordinary brutality Guy witnesses and the humanity of the people trying to save lives in its aftermath. The book is not simply an account of a massacre; it is also an account of courage, compassion and the determination of rescuers to find and save whoever they could.
The Rescue is painful, shocking and at times extremely difficult to read. But it is precisely because of its human detail that the book is so powerful. It takes an event that can easily become reduced to political arguments and statistics and restores the individual people at its centre. For me, it is a profoundly affecting account of 7 October and of the Israeli people who endured it, survived it and responded to it.
::
February 25, 2026
The book was delivered and before bed I just wanted to read the first few sentences. Suddenly birds started to sing. The sun forced his light through drawn curtains. The night was over. The book was read.
Then in February 2026 I read Full Throttle, the preceding book by Guy M. about his way from recruit to active member of Unit 669. It was just released in English. With this widened background I grabbed The Rescue and read it again during one night. It was as if the words turned into a 3D movie. I saw more details, understood more, was emotionally even more stirred. I‘m grateful for Guy M.‘s courage to open up to the reader. I salute you, sir.
Then in February 2026 I read Full Throttle, the preceding book by Guy M. about his way from recruit to active member of Unit 669. It was just released in English. With this widened background I grabbed The Rescue and read it again during one night. It was as if the words turned into a 3D movie. I saw more details, understood more, was emotionally even more stirred. I‘m grateful for Guy M.‘s courage to open up to the reader. I salute you, sir.
May 25, 2025
The Rescue is a gripping, firsthand account of courage, horror, and humanity, as experienced by the author and his comrades from Israel’s elite Unit 669 during and after the October 7 massacre. Through vivid and often harrowing storytelling, the book recounts the brutal reality of the Hamas terrorist attacks on southern Israel, including the atrocities committed at the Nova Festival and in kibbutzim like Kfar Azza and Be’eri.
What makes The Rescue particularly powerful is not only its unflinching portrayal of the barbarity faced by civilians and soldiers alike, but also its tribute to the resilience and moral strength of the IDF heroes. The author, one of the first to respond on that fateful morning, shares the stories of those who risked everything to save lives—under fire, in chaos, and often with unimaginable loss surrounding them.
More than a military chronicle, this book is a testament to bravery, humility, and the enduring spirit of those who choose to protect life even in its darkest moments. It is a rare and essential window into modern warfare, told by those who lived it—with raw honesty, deep pain, and unwavering humanity.
A must-read for anyone seeking to understand not just what happened on October 7, but the people who stood against it.
What makes The Rescue particularly powerful is not only its unflinching portrayal of the barbarity faced by civilians and soldiers alike, but also its tribute to the resilience and moral strength of the IDF heroes. The author, one of the first to respond on that fateful morning, shares the stories of those who risked everything to save lives—under fire, in chaos, and often with unimaginable loss surrounding them.
More than a military chronicle, this book is a testament to bravery, humility, and the enduring spirit of those who choose to protect life even in its darkest moments. It is a rare and essential window into modern warfare, told by those who lived it—with raw honesty, deep pain, and unwavering humanity.
A must-read for anyone seeking to understand not just what happened on October 7, but the people who stood against it.
May 11, 2026
Gives an account of the events of October 7th from the eyes of the people who were there even before they knew what was happening. Makes you feel like you are in the middle of the action. Highly recommend.
June 14, 2025
I cannot wait until I'm finished reading to review this book. It is so compelling from the first sentence. I was pulled into Guy's world by his very human, very readable writing. He builds the tension of awakening to that awful day, and how unaware the country was of this brutal terrorist attack. He and his fellow Para-Rescue Commandos scrambled to make sense of the situation, even as they were shot at while triaging grotesquely mutilated victims, trying to save lives.
As I understand it, this is the first book written through the eyes of a soldier responding to the October 7th slaughter. He describes how he compartmentalizes the various aspects of that time frame so that he might function at peak capacity. He is a marvelous author, even as he currently balances semi-weekly military service with semi-weekly medical studies. I can't wait for his next novel.
As I understand it, this is the first book written through the eyes of a soldier responding to the October 7th slaughter. He describes how he compartmentalizes the various aspects of that time frame so that he might function at peak capacity. He is a marvelous author, even as he currently balances semi-weekly military service with semi-weekly medical studies. I can't wait for his next novel.
August 26, 2026
An emotional rollercoaster. Unputdownable, read in one sitting. This gripping true story depicting the ‘669’ Units’ valuable work under the most extreme and dangerous circumstances . This book explains what this unit had to do after October 7th happened . Not only does the author describe the actual horrific situations and the findings that they had to deal with but also weaves in their feelings and thoughts during these times. This book will make you experience a range of emotions, from tears to hope but overall left me with a huge sense of pride and gratitude to these wonderful brave men . Highly recommend
December 21, 2024
I read an advance copy of this book and it was absolutely phenomenal. Heart wrenching stories about the heros – and victims – of the October 7th massacre. Getting a peak behind the curtain into the experience of those who were victims and soldiers (sometimes both at once) was moving to say the least. Guy M is an excellent storyteller and a true asset to the people of Israel.
August 22, 2025
I was skeptical because usually I don’t resemble with books that have to do with war, but this was something else. The anonymous author grips the reader from the first page . can’t put it down until you figure out what the ending is. I think finally got to understand what happening in israel.
May 26, 2026
This narrative of Guy and his cohort of elite combat medics offers an interesting perspective on one aspect of the Israeli response to the atrocities committed by Hamas and other Palestinian hooligans on the Gaza border on 7 Oct. 2023. It is, however, a singular perspective. Those who don't already have the bigger picture in mind might prefer to start elsewhere.
HH
HH
December 31, 2025
Emotive account of heroic bravery, selflessness, decisive action, commitment and service in a time of national crisis, confusion and existential threat.
September 29, 2025
Wow what a intense captivating story, Author had me feeling like I was part of the book live, highly recommended
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews