Lessons From October 7: Lies Prevail, While Memory Lingers

Commemorations began at 6:29 AM, the exact time the attack commenced, with a moment of silence observed at dozens of locations. Throughout the day, ceremonies were held at significant sites, including the Nova music festival location in the Re'im forest, Kfar Aza, Sderot, and the Eshkol Regional Council, which honored its 259 murdered residents. President Yitzhak Herzog and his wife lit a memorial candle at the President's Residence, while families of victims and hostages held a memorial prayer at the Knesset.

At 12:00 PM, a nationwide minute of silence was observed at workplaces, schools, and hospitals. Simultaneously, an exhibition featuring personal belongings of the victims opened at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Jaffa. In the evening, a central memorial ceremony organized by victims' families was scheduled at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, expected to draw 50,000 participants.

Alongside the memorials, extensive protests and vehicle convoys organized by groups like the October Council and the Kumu movement demanded accountability and a state commission of inquiry. Demonstrations took place outside the homes of government ministers who were in office during the attack. Globally, Israeli embassies organized ceremonies, exhibitions, and testimony screenings in cities including New York, Berlin, Paris, and Tokyo.