Lior Raz, the co-creator and lead star of the television series Fauda, has shared detailed accounts of his personal experiences during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. In an interview with the UK’s Mail on Sunday, published online on Saturday, Raz described the moment his sister contacted him from a bomb shelter in a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip. At the time, Raz was in Romania and did not initially understand the gravity of the situation until he checked his phone and television, where he saw the widespread footage of the invasion.
His sister, who was not named in the interview, begged him for assistance as terrorists moved through the area. She told him, “Lior, you need to save me because I’m with my kids at the shelter. There are terrorists around us.” Although Raz arrived in Israel the day after the attack began, his sister was already safe by then. However, the actor felt compelled to return to the frontline to assist in the ongoing defense efforts.
Raz, who portrays undercover unit commander Doron Kavillio in the hit show, traveled to Sderot on October 9 alongside co-creator Avi Issacharoff. Both men are veterans of the IDF’s elite Duvdevan unit, and they used their military experiences as the basis for the series. On that day, they joined the Brothers in Arms organization of reservist soldiers to help secure the southern region of the country.
Under continuous rocket fire, Raz and his team evacuated two families from Sderot, a town that had suffered significant damage during the initial massacre. Raz recalled taking his Jeep and gun to the south because terrorists were still active in the area. He noted that families were trapped in their homes and required urgent rescue. He described the experience as the hardest day of his life, stating that he has not had a single day since where he did not think about the events.
The attack on October 7, 2023, resulted in the killing of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages. While processing the trauma, Raz also noted that his public profile led to some unexpected interactions. In one instance, he knocked on a door to check on a family, only to be greeted with confusion. The residents, recognizing him from the show, asked, “Doron, what are you doing here?” believing they were part of a scene from Fauda.
These real-life experiences directly influenced the narrative of Fauda’s fifth season, which included two specific episodes focused on the events of October 7. Raz described the challenge of acting out a scenario that mirrored his own life as extremely difficult. He felt that the production was doing something more significant than just filming a television show. The team aimed to portray the harsh reality of the day without depicting too much carnage, balancing entertainment with historical accuracy.
In September, Raz and Issacharoff discussed the difficulties of writing this new season with the New York Times. Issacharoff explained that while they tried to stay as close to reality as possible, they could not show everything because the events were so terrible. Raz considered the season to be perhaps the most important thing the team has ever written.
The fifth season of Fauda, which incorporates these themes, premiered in May of this year. The series continues to draw on the personal histories of its creators, blending their military backgrounds with the unfolding political and social landscape of Israel.
Raz’s account highlights the unique position of the show’s creators, who are both actors and veterans. Their dual roles allow for a level of authenticity in depicting conflict that resonates with audiences. As the series moves forward, the impact of October 7 remains a central element of its storytelling, reflecting the ongoing struggle for security and normalcy in the region.
