In a direct response to what he describes as a global tide of misinformation, former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Alon Penzel is preparing for a nationwide speaking tour across Canada in the coming weeks. The tour, organized by the advocacy group StandWithUs, aims to confront the persistent denial, minimization, and ignorance surrounding the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.
A Mission Forged in Trauma and Denial
Speaking from Tel Aviv, Penzel explained his motivation is to give voice to the victims whose stories are being erased or contested. "To speak up for those whose voice was taken," he stated, referencing not only the murdered but also those tortured, raped, wounded, and held hostage. He emphasizes that many survivors and families remain too traumatized to share their experiences publicly, making his documentation and advocacy a crucial conduit for truth.
Penzel's sense of urgency was immediate. Foreseeing the wave of historical revisionism, he authored "Testimonies Without Boundaries, Israel: October 7th 2023" just five months after the massacre. The book contains 50 first-hand accounts of the atrocities and was written, he says, in an intentionally graphic and unfiltered manner to shock the international community into comprehending the scale of the cruelty.
Confronting Hostility and Misinformation Globally
The Canadian tour follows Penzel's extensive international outreach over the past 18 months, during which he has addressed tens of thousands in 16 countries, including the U.K. House of Lords. However, his message has often been met with hostility. A stark example occurred on June 2, 2025, at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
During his presentation, protesters broke windows and threatened him with bodily harm, while screaming "lies" and denying that Hamas committed acts of rape against women. Adding to the controversy, Harry Pettit, an assistant professor of geography at the university, posted on social media labeling Penzel a "terrorist," accusing Israel of committing a "holocaust," and arguing the school should not platform Zionists.
Penzel's work has nonetheless gained significant traction. His book has been translated into nine languages and served as research material for the U.K.-backed Dinah Project, a comprehensive study on the sexual crimes of October 7.
The Battle for Historical Truth
Penzel and other activists argue that a dangerous narrative has taken hold globally, one that not only delegitimizes Israel's subsequent war in Gaza but also successfully undermines the factual record of the initial attacks. They see the effort to document the brutality as a critical fight against propaganda that seeks to muddy history.
"I documented the atrocities and wrote the book because already on October 7, I immediately foresaw the worldwide denial that we would face," Penzel told the National Post. "I realized the urgency for documentation. I knew something must be created so that what happened would be commemorated for generations to come."
His upcoming Canadian events will combine campus engagements with community gatherings, aiming to cut through misinformation and present firsthand evidence of the events that have shaped the ongoing conflict. The tour underscores the intense and often violent polarization that continues to surround discussions of the Israel-Hamas war, even two years after the October 7 attacks.
