Hapoel Tel Aviv Halts Sports to Honor Oct. 7 Victims

The Israeli sports community, particularly the Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball club, paused its activities to commemorate the 1,200 victims of the October 7th Hamas attacks. The club held a memorial ceremony, with owner Ofer Yanai sharing his personal reflections on the day and the club's subsequent efforts to support affected communities. Yanai recounted bringing children from kibbutzim to Paris to share their experiences and how the team's EuroCup victory became a way to bring joy amidst the national sorrow.

Gili Ra'anan spoke of the chaos he witnessed on the road and his resolve to rebuild differently after the attacks, emphasizing that the empty seats in the arena represented loved ones lost. He stressed that while the past cannot be fixed, sport, and Hapoel Tel Aviv specifically, offers a powerful way to build a new life and community while remembering those who are gone.

Team Chairman Stav Shaham stated that the evening was dedicated to honoring the murdered and fallen, including IDF soldiers and those who acted heroically on October 7th. He acknowledged the deep, enduring pain and assured the families that the Hapoel community stands with them, emphasizing that the club is more than just a sports team; it is a family that has lost many of its members.

Sharon Kotz, whose entire family was murdered, expressed gratitude for being embraced by the Hapoel family and for seeing her loved ones' pictures displayed, making her feel they are not alone. Shi Harmash, father of Omer Harmash who was murdered in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, remembered his son as a vocal fan who was instrumental in founding the Hapoel Osishkin association to revive the club, a feat he did not live to see.

Player Tomer Ginat described the difficulty of playing the first game after October 7th, explaining that the focus shifted from the opponent to the reason for playing: for the fans who had suffered so much. He acknowledged that a basketball game couldn't fix the damage but wearing the jersey was a way to be with the grieving community. Captain Bar Timor echoed these sentiments, stating that the team remembers and carries the memory of the fallen, emphasizing that some things are far greater than any game.