Foreign Ministry Funds Oct. 7 Events After Haaretz Inquiry

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it would allocate funding for ceremonies at embassies commemorating the October 7th Hamas attacks, but only after the newspaper Haaretz inquired about the matter. The ministry had initially not planned to fund such events, leading to criticism.

Haaretz's inquiry prompted the ministry to reconsider its decision. The funding will now be provided to support diplomatic missions in holding events that honor the victims and mark the anniversary of the unprecedented assault.

The ministry's initial reluctance to fund the events had drawn criticism from various groups, including families of hostages and those affected by the attacks, who felt it was crucial to officially commemorate the day and its victims abroad. The reversal indicates a response to public and media pressure.