Israelis Gather to Remember Two Years Since October 7 Massacre

Two years after the darkest day in Israel’s modern history, 30,000 people gathered Tuesday night at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park for a national memorial ceremony marking the anniversary of the October 7 massacre. The attack by Hamas terrorists claimed over 1,200 lives and saw 251 hostages dragged into Gaza, igniting a war that continues to this day.

The event, organized by KUMU, opened with a haunting violin performance by released hostage Agam Berger, who played the theme from Schindler’s List. Throughout the evening, the words “we remember” echoed as families of victims, survivors, and former hostages shared stories of loss, pain, and resilience.

While mourning, the ceremony also carried an undercurrent of hope. With U.S. President Donald Trump expressing optimism about a possible Gaza deal during the week, many families of the 48 hostages still in captivity voiced both anguish and determination. “Every single one of them must come home,” declared the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Former hostage Omer Shem Tov reminded the crowd that even amid heartbreak, unity and compassion endure. “The peace we once dreamed of is still far away, but the unity, compassion, and human spark revealed here are the foundation upon which we can rebuild,” he said.

Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod remains captive, pledged to never give up: “An entire nation is not giving up on you.” Similarly, Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan, declared, “We will bring you all home, the living and the fallen, until the very last hostage.”

The stories of bereaved families brought the tragedy into sharp focus. Galit Dan eulogized her daughter Noya, just 13, and her mother Carmela, both murdered at Kibbutz Nir Oz. “Because it’s October again. I pray no more bereaved mothers. No more dead,” she said.

Others spoke of bravery and sacrifice. Mazie Ayalon recounted how her husband Tal, commander of Kfar Aza’s standby squad, fought to save lives until his last breath. “It’s only us widows who remain on alert, in longing, in pain, trying to cling to their path,” she said.

Not all wounds are visible. Tzachi Hanegbi, speaking to survivors struggling with trauma, called them “the invisible wounded” and assured them: “In this battle, you are not alone.”

The evening also remembered the 364 lives lost at the Nova music festival massacre. Orit Baron stood at the site where her daughter Yuval and fiancé Moshe were murdered. “They are buried next to each other because they were never separated,” she said.

Music added to the emotional weight of the night. Daniel Weiss, who lost both parents, performed alongside Yuval Raphael, a survivor who represented Israel at Eurovision 2025. Later, as Tamir Greenberg sang, the audience lit up the park with their phone torches, symbolizing shared remembrance and unity.

The ceremony closed with the national anthem, Hatikvah, sung with voices carrying both grief and determination. Beyond Tel Aviv, communities across Israel held local memorials, especially in towns along the Gaza border, where scars remain deepest.

For many, the memorial was not only about looking back but also looking forward to the return of the hostages, to the healing of a nation, and to the rebuilding of trust. As Yonatan Shamriz, whose brother Alon was killed in captivity, declared. “Our generation, which inherited a country bleeding, isolated, fractured, and in pain, will be the one to fix it.”

Israel stands united in memory and in hope. Share this article and subscribe to our newsletter for more stories that honor the past and strengthen the future.