Memorial Event for October 7 Massacre Held in Southern Israel

A memorial event for the October 7 massacre was held Sunday evening in the Swords of Iron Forest in southern Israel. The gathering included residents of kibbutzim and moshavim from the western Negev and southern cities, bereaved families, former hostages, and representatives of security forces. The ceremony took place in the memorial forest established by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to commemorate those killed and fallen in the massacre and the subsequent war. As part of the forest's establishment, trees were planted by bereaved families, each accompanied by a memorial plaque allowing visitors to listen to a song chosen by the family in memory of their loved one.

Uri Epstein, head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, spoke about the personal losses he suffered, including his eldest son, mother, brother-in-law, and nephews. "The pain does not pass, but I am not alone in the pain," he stated, emphasizing a choice for life. He called for a state inquiry commission, asserting that "without truth there is no responsibility, without responsibility there is no trust, and without trust, we cannot build our home." He concluded with a commitment to remember, demand truth, repair, sow, build, and live.

Michal Uziel, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, addressed the efforts to distort reality and forget the events of October 7. She stressed the obligation to remember the many souls lost in communities and at parties, and the heroism of the emergency response teams, soldiers, police, and security personnel. Uziel highlighted the resilience and hope evident in the Eshkol region, noting that 752 babies have been born there since October 7. She affirmed that communities are returning, new families are joining, and farmers are continuing their work, emphasizing the commitment to ensure a different reality for children and prevent future tragedies. "The wheat is growing again because we choose to do so, choosing life and hope," she said.

The event was organized by the JNF, the Kibbutz Movement, the Moshav Movement, the Eshkol Regional Council, and the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. Artists David D'Or, Yuval Dayan, Keren Peles, and Shai Maimon performed.