A large crowd gathered at the Nova music festival site to commemorate the first anniversary of the devastating October 7, 2023, attacks.
On that day, Hamas militants launched a coordinated assault on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people, and the taking of 250 hostages.
The festival, which became one of the bloodiest scenes, saw the loss of at least 347 lives, with 40 others taken hostage during the chaos.
The attacks shocked the world, especially as horrifying videos of the massacre spread quickly across social media.
In the aftermath, Israeli forces launched a massive invasion of Gaza, leading to further escalations.
Some of the hostages taken by Hamas were released during brief ceasefire periods, but the impact of the attack remains deeply felt.
On Sunday, a solemn vigil was held in Tel Aviv, where survivors and families of the victims gathered to reflect on the tragedy. One survivor, Sapir Cohen, who spent 55 days in captivity, shared a haunting memory with the crowd.
Speaking on the incident, Cohen recalled, “In captivity, I saw a girl curled up like a fetus, shaking, and a man sitting with his eyes closed for hours, refusing to open them or be part of the situation.”
Noam Peri, whose father, Chaim Peri, was killed while in Hamas captivity, also shared a poignant moment with the gathering.
Reflecting on his father’s experience during the Yom Kippur War, Noam said, “For the first time, my father shared his story from the Yom Kippur War with us. It was a sad yet moving evening, with all of us united. At this very hour last year, we were still sitting and listening to him recount that first evening of October 6, 1973, when he traveled from Nir Oz deep into the Sinai. We listened intently, and at the end of the night, we said our goodbyes with hugs, kisses, and great love.”
In a message marking the anniversary, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the world to strongly condemn the “abhorrent acts” committed during the Hamas-led terror attack.
He emphasized the need for peace, calling on all parties to “release the hostages, silence the guns, and stop the suffering that has engulfed the region.” Guterres also called for the restoration of international law and justice for all victims and survivors of the violence, stressing that a sustainable resolution was long overdue.
