The "Future for the Gaza Envelope" movement published on Tuesday the findings of a public-opinion survey on legislation to establish remembrance and commemoration of the October 7 massacre, titled the Memory of the Massacre and Heroism Law for 22 Tishrei, Simchat Torah, October 7, 2026. More than 1,300 people took part, mostly residents of the Tekuma region and Gaza border communities.
The poll found broad support for putting commemoration into law, while also demanding that the affected communities be part of the process rather than having national memory shaped as an institutional project detached from the field. According to the results, 91.3% said it is important to regulate the memory, heritage and commemoration of the October 7 events by law. Another 71% supported making permanent public participation, including residents, families, survivors and representatives of impacted communities, an explicit legal obligation.
The survey also found that 79.2% believe decisions on preserving, altering or demolishing damaged buildings should be led by local residents or made with their involvement. Some 85.2% want memorial and exposure tours in the Gaza border area after October 7 to be led by, or include, local residents, and 89.4% want October 7 incorporated into school curricula in the years ahead. The report said 77.8% attach especially high importance to documenting and preserving testimony, documents and historical material, while 51.3% supported passing on heritage and heroism to future generations.
The movement said the findings reflect a view that commemoration is not only about the past, but also about historical truth, responsibility to the future of the affected communities, and an ongoing connection to the territory. It is calling for a law that guarantees a permanent base budget for the body to be created, transparency, publication of minutes and annual public reporting, professional subcommittees on education, heritage, testimony, memorial sites and public participation, plus a special majority for major decisions on the shape of memory, memorial sites and the museum. Ohad Cohen, the group’s CEO, said residents want a state memorial law, but do not want national memory shaped without the communities that paid the heaviest price.
