Israel to Officially Declare October 7 as National Remembrance Day

Tel Aviv, March 17 (IANS) The Israel Cabinet is set to vote on declaring October 7 as the national remembrance day. The proposal aims to honor those who were killed in the Hamas attack on that day and remember the horrors of the October 7 massacre.

According to sources in the Israel Prime Minister’s office, the proposal states that “October 7 is etched into the public consciousness as the day of a horrible massacre.” It suggests a national memorial day on the 24th of Tishrei, the first month of the Hebrew calendar, with ceremonies in all institutions and a state ceremony by the Army for those who died during ‘Operation Iron Swords’.

Currently, Israel observes two national remembrance days – one for the Holocaust victims and Jewish fighters against the Nazis, and the other for Israeli military personnel killed in the struggle for the State of Israel and in terrorist attacks. The Holocaust Remembrance Day, known as Yom HaShoah, falls on the 27th of Nisan, while Remembrance Day, or Yom HaZikaron, is a week before Independence Day.

The proposal for a new remembrance day on October 7 comes in response to public sentiment in Israel, recognizing the need to solemnly commemorate the tragic events of that day. If approved by the Cabinet, October 7 will become a day of reflection and honoring the memory of the victims of the massacre.

The decision to establish a national remembrance day on October 7 will pay tribute to the lives lost in the Hamas attack and ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten. The proposed ceremonies across Israel will serve as a solemn reminder of the importance of honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.