Two Years Later: Tel Aviv Unites in Grief and Defiance at Massive October 7 Memorial
Two Years Later: Tel Aviv Unites in Grief and Defiance at Massive October 7 Memorial
Tel Aviv, October 7, 2025 – An estimated 30,000 people filled Yarkon Park on Tuesday night for Israel’s largest memorial ceremony, marking two years since Hamas’s devastating October 7, 2023, onslaught on southern Israel. Emotions ran high as attendees honored the victims, expressed defiance, and voiced hope for a better future.
Organized by Kumu (“Rise Up”), a movement founded by survivors and families of victims and hostages, the event served as an unofficial national day of remembrance, contrasting with the government’s planned Hebrew anniversary commemoration later this month. The gathering featured powerful testimonies, musical performances, and stark visual reminders of the tragedy.
Speakers, including Kumu founder Yonatan Shamriz, brother of hostage Alon Shamriz, delivered poignant messages. Shamriz criticized what he called “negligence, failed leadership, and the abandonment of responsibility,” vowing that the current generation would lead Israel to a “far better reality” built on accountability and mutual responsibility.
The stage was adorned with symbolic elements, including a burned car from the Gaza border area, a bullet-riddled bomb shelter, and 48 yellow chairs representing the hostages still held in Gaza. Attendees wore “Bring Them Home” T-shirts and yellow ribbons, reflecting the ongoing anguish over the captives.
The ceremony included performances by Yuval Raphael, Israel’s 2025 Eurovision representative, and pop star Eden Hason, as names of October 7 victims illuminated screens. Survivors and bereaved families shared harrowing pre-recorded testimonies, underscoring the profound mental health toll of the war.
A central theme was the urgent call for the release of the remaining 48 hostages. Released hostage Omer Shem Tov and singer Eden Golan made impassioned pleas to national and international audiences, with Golan performing “I’m Coming Home” as the crowd chanted “Everyone, now.” This appeal came amid ongoing ceasefire and hostage-exchange negotiations in Egypt.
Despite the grief, messages of resilience and a demand for accountability resonated. Galit Dan, who lost family members in Kibbutz Nir Oz, spoke of seeking healing over revenge. Shamriz reiterated the demand for a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the Hamas attack, a move the government has opposed despite widespread public support.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.