Former hostages and loved ones of the deceased vehemently oppose the proposed October 7 commemoration event.
Petition to Minister Miri Regev: Keep Our Loved Ones' Images Off the Invite List
In a heartfelt plea, these individuals have urged Minister Miri Regev to steer clear of using their family portraits at the upcoming event. They also declined any mention of their names and personal circumstances about the incident.
The petitioners proposed cancelling the formal memorial service and channeling the allocated funds (rumored to be over a million euros by media sources) towards rescues instead of organizing the event.
On a Tuesday remark, Minister of Transport Miri Regev confirmed the event's continuation, facing strong public opposition. Despite the backlash, the ceremony is set to take place in Kibbutz Ofakim and will be pre-recorded. Amidst the tension, Israeli President Isaac Herzog proposed an alternative venue, but Miri Regev rejected the idea.
Certain southern Israel localities, such as Kfar Aza, Beeri, and Nirim, had previously declined to host the official ceremony, favoring intimate, personal memorials instead.
The victims' families also announced an alternative memorial gathering in a Tel Aviv park. Numerous prominent Israeli artists have shown interest in attending this event in lieu of the official ceremony.
On October 7, 2023, a staggering 1199 lives were lost, and over 251 were abducted to the Gaza Strip, following a militant force's offensive on southern Israel. According to recent Israeli reports, 103 individuals are still held captive by Hamas. Regrettably, 33 individuals have been confirmed dead by the military.
Subsequent to the Gaza Strip's attack, Israel embarked on massive military operations. Hamas, though unconfirmed, reported a staggering 40,500 casualties since then.
Lately, authorities in the northern Israeli city of Migdal Haemek reported the recovery of a resident taken hostage in the Gaza Strip on October 7. The Dahan family received their son, Shaked's body, as announced on Instagram by the city. Nevertheless, the Israeli military has yet to verify the claim.
The petitioners passionately disapproved of the initial plan to include their relatives' images at the event. They emphasized that such events should never feature their family members' details in the past.
Reasons Behind the Rejection
The rejection has its roots in three primary demands.
- Hostage Release: Many families yearn for their loved ones' immediate release from Hamas captivity. For instance, Ofri Bibas Levy, the aunt of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, pleads specifically for their mother's safe return, Shiri Bibas[1].
- Rejection of Holocaust Comparisons: While the commemoration event serves as a reminder of the hostages' suffering, some survivors and families find it disrespectful to draw parallels to the Holocaust. Critics, such as historians Enzo Traverso and Raz Segal, consider these comparisons to be distorting the true strengthen of shattering the ceasefire deal's reality[2].
- Seeking Justice and Accountability: Families additionally demand justice and accountability for the failure to protect their loved ones from Hamas' actions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to bring those responsible to justice, emphasizing that Hamas will bear the repercussions for the violations[1].
The families' focus is primarily on accountability, justice for their loved ones, and the immediate release of those still in captivity. Although not expressly stated, they may not perceive the need for a formal memorial service as central to the process.
[1] https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/iranian-jihadists-planned-october-7-through-balance-of-powers-documents-547476
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/20/israeli-and-palestinian-poets-launch-co-produced-anthology
[3] https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/09/27/debate-over-october-7-memorial-event/
[4] https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5582097,00.html
