Amid the controversy surrounding the memorial ceremonies, the families of the abductees released today (Thursday) the planned schedule for the national memorial ceremony on October 7th, which will take place concurrently with the official ceremony organized by Minister Miri Regev later that evening.
According to the announcement, the ceremony on October 7th will begin with a moment of silence and the “Yizkor” prayer at 19:10, and the gates of Yarkon Park will open to the public at 17:00. Hours after the families’ announcement, Minister Regev issued a statement noting, “I am aware of the ongoing discussion among different segments of the public regarding the ceremony, and it is important for me to summarize the week. As I have already announced, the official ceremony will be broadcast on October 7th at 21:15 as originally planned, allowing for the local events to take place before the broadcast.”
The minister added about the official ceremony: “There isn’t a home in Israel that won’t be affected by the ceremony,” and added, “Since we are entering the month of Selichot, I urge all of us to focus on what matters most and to strengthen the IDF soldiers.”
Yesterday, about 100 returnees and families of abductees published a letter to Minister Regev, declaring that they refuse to allow the use of their images or those of their loved ones during the official ceremony as a protest against how the ceremony is being conducted. The letter stated, “It is unreasonable that at this time, when state resources should be invested in bringing back the 108 abductees, protecting the communities in the Gaza envelope and the north, caring for the many evacuees, and all affected citizens, resources are being invested in producing a ceremony managed by those whose failures led to the unfortunate situation we are in, resulting in a profound breakdown of public trust.”
