Survivors and Families of Oct. 7 Victims Demand Truth at National Memorial

A national memorial ceremony for the families of the October 7th victims commenced Wednesday evening at 9:15 PM in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, with broadcasts across Israel. Hosted by former hostage Eli Sharaabi and actress Shani Cohen, the event aimed to honor the fallen and recount the events of that day. Sharaabi stated, "In the name of the murdered and fallen, and for the generations to come, we will testify and tell what happened on the day the sky fell upon us." He thanked Israelis for their support, emphasizing the ceremony was created by and for the people.

Rabbi Beni Klyzman, father of Elhanan Klyzman who fell in the battles of Be'eri, recited Kaddish and spoke of his son's sacrifice for his people and for the sanctification of God's name, calling for national unity and mutual responsibility. Omri Shaproni, a survivor of the Be'eri massacre who lost four family members on October 7th, also addressed the attendees. While praising Israeli solidarity, Shaproni stressed that "mutual responsibility is not enough. To recover, we also need the truth." He called for an investigative commission to uncover the circumstances of the disaster, receiving thunderous applause. "It must not be a political debate. It is a moral duty. An ethical duty. And a security duty. For three years, the people of Israel have carried on their shoulders brokenness, pain, and one persistent question: 'How did this happen to us?' And we will not let go of it," he added.

Adi Marciano, whose daughter, lookout soldier Noa Marciano, was kidnapped and murdered in Gaza's Shifa Hospital, shared her grief and apologized to her daughter for her suffering. Sharaabi concluded the ceremony by urging an investigation into the October 7th events to enable Israeli society to rebuild. "We must remember what happened. Investigate how it happened. Do not cut corners. Do not let time blur the truth, do not rewrite history, and do not let history repeat itself. Memory is not just a look back. It is also our way forward. Only if we truly remember, can we learn. Only if we learn, can we correct. And only if we correct, can we build a safer, more worthy, better place here. This is our hope, that after all and despite all, there will still be a better life here."

The ceremony, organized by the organizations 'Komo' and the Forum of October 7th Families, is in its third year and aims to be a unifying and hopeful national event. Participating artists included Shlomo Artzi, Osher Cohen, Eden Golan, Ivri Lider, Miri Mesika, Harel Skaat, and Gali Atari. One attendee, Gal, 61, expressed feelings of pain, sadness, and hope, noting his two sons were called up to military service on October 7th and he himself served in the reserves for about a month and a half. He hoped for national unity, stating, "We are in a very hostile world. Just look at what is happening in France, in Ireland, and also on all our borders. I think we need to succeed in putting aside the disputes and uniting around a common denominator."