Organizers Consider Barring Jonathan Shmoriz From October 7 Families Memorial to Avoid Political Tensions
Organizers of the October 7 Families Memorial Ceremony are considering preventing Jonathan Shmoriz, founder of the "Como" movement and a prominent speaker at the last two ceremonies, from participating in this year's event. This decision stems from concerns about the proximity to the 2026 elections and the organizers' desire to keep the ceremony as apolitical as possible. A source involved in the event's production told Kan News that clear efforts are underway to distance the event from politics, especially since it takes place just two weeks before the elections.
Jonathan Shmoriz, whose brother Alon was accidentally killed by IDF fire while attempting to escape captivity alongside Yotam Haim and Samer Al Talalka, has been a central speaker in previous ceremonies and a vocal advocate for the return of hostages. In January, Shmoriz announced his intention to enter politics, and since then, there have been discussions, including with the Democratic Party, about securing a spot on their list. Due to this, the organizers and families fear that his speech could be perceived as politically motivated during the election period.
In response, the ceremony's organizers emphasized that the national memorial event in Park HaYarkon, initiated by the affected families and fully funded by the public, is the sole central ceremony commemorating the massacre in Israel and worldwide. They reiterated their commitment to producing an apolitical, inclusive event representing all communities affected by the tragedy. The organizers also clarified that no requests to exclude any speaker have been received, and any decisions about speakers are part of the final production stage, not personal judgments.
Separately, Jonathan Shmoriz responded to criticism from Gal Hirsch, calling it "outrageous statements and disrespect to the people." Additionally, the High Court of Justice recently rejected a petition to recognize Alon Shmoriz as a fallen IDF soldier.
