Bereaved families interrupted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at a ceremony on Sunday for the civilian casualties of October 7 and the ensuing war, shouting over him as he began to speak.
One wore a shirt that read, “We are not all together. I am an orphan.”
Another man protesting was Yaakov Gudo, whose son Tom was killed in Kissufim on October 7, KAN reported, adding that Gudo debated attending the ceremony but decided to attend to make sure his voice was heard.
Top political and security officials attended two ceremonies on Sunday – one for fallen soldiers and another for civilians killed on October 7 and in the ensuing war.
The ceremonies were part of a day of mourning that was held to mark the Hebrew date of the Hamas massacre, which occurred on Simchat Torah. Both ceremonies were held at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Some family members of hostages and even government ministers questioned the necessity of an additional national day of mourning following a similar day held on October 7. The decision to move forward with the ceremony was pertinent only to the one-year commemoration, as the Knesset is preparing legislation for a permanent commemoration that will apply from 2025 onwards.
Both ceremonies were attended by all of the country’s top leadership, including President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara; interim Supreme Court Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit; and Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana (Likud).
Other senior officials in attendance included Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi,
Mossad head David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion.
Comments from Israel's leadership
Netanyahu, speaking at the military ceremony, said Israel’s attack against Iran on Saturday harmed Tehran’s defensive capabilities, was “precise and powerful,” and achieved all of its goals. He thanked the IDF and IAF, as well as the United States, and reiterated his commitment to the return of all of the hostages.
At the civilian ceremony, after being interrupted by families, Netanyahu said he knows the lives of the bereaved families have been changed and will never be the same.
“There is no solace for the loss we have experienced," he said.
“I know the size of the loss; I know the depth of the hole opened up in you. I know your lives have changed and will not return to what they were. My wife and I are embracing you from the bottom of our hearts. Each family in its pain, we are all standing together always – in bad and good, together in joint destiny, together in mutual responsibility.”
The bereaved families “embody the spirit of [King] David,” said Netanyahu, adding that this spirit “will win.”
“Beyond the memorializing, we have another important mission – the full rehabilitation of the Gaza border area and the North,” he added.
Gallant said during his speech at the military ceremony that “not every goal can be achieved only by military action” and that Israel will need to agree to “painful concessions” to bring the hostages home. Still, this was necessary for “the IDF’s legacy, and in the name of the Jewish and national ethos.”
He added that this was his responsibility as defense minister – and that just as he was responsible for the significant gains, so too for the “failures” and the “heavy price.”
Herzog said in his address at the military ceremony that the “critical, supreme task still lies ahead of us – to urgently bring back the hostages from the hands of the murderers.
“The elimination of the arch-terrorist [Yahya]Sinwar and other enemies, and the impressive fighting by the IDF and security forces, have created an opportunity that we must not miss.
“We must act with all our might – with all our might and in every way – with determination, creativity, and boldness to secure the return home of the hostages. Many of the fallen saw this as their supreme mission; so many fought and continue to fight with the images of the hostages in their vests; so many still do so – at home and on the front lines, on land, in the air, and at sea.
“The blood of our brothers cries out to us. Their rescue is a supreme and binding duty, without which we cannot be whole as a people and as a state,” the president said.
At the civilian ceremony, Herzog said, “I know nothing can heal your world, which has been destroyed. All I can do is hold you and offer you the support of the nation.
“I am standing here today as president of the State of Israel and apologizing,” he said, addressing the bereaved families.
“[Asking for] forgiveness for our failure to protect your loved ones. Forgiveness for breaking the most basic and binding contract between a state and its citizens – their security and lives.”
At the military ceremony, the Yizkor remembrance prayer was read by Maj. Omri Bracha, a reserve deputy battalion commander in the Engineering Corps who was seriously wounded in Jabalya during the war. Kaddish was read by Rami Sayif, father of Capt. Itay Sayif, a platoon commander of the Givati Brigade who fell in February in northern Gaza.
At the civilian ceremony, kaddish was said by the father of Moriah Or Suisa, who was killed at the Nova music festival while hiding in an ambulance.
The military ceremony began with quotes from soldiers before they fell in battle. One of the soldiers mentioned was Sgt. Re’em Batito of the Golani Brigade, who died on October 7, 2023. Batito’s mother, Dikla, spoke about her connection to her fallen son, even after his passing, and said she visits his grave every morning to read him psalms and some philosophy.
At the military ceremony, video comments were shown of Smadar Lugasi of Kiryat Shmona, the single mother of Elay Elisha, who was wounded in battle in Gaza in November, returned, and was eventually killed in battle. Lugasi said she could not visit her son’s grave since he was buried in Kiryat Shmona.
Iris Haim, whose son Yotam Haim was killed accidentally by Israeli forces after escaping his Hamas captors in Gaza, spoke at the civilian ceremony as a representative of the bereaved families.
On October 7, the families “ turned from anonymous people with dreams and plans into the parents of, brothers of, children of...” said Haim. “I turned into Iris Haim, the mother of Yotam Haim, who was killed by friendly fire.”
Haim spoke about the moment that all bereaved families now carry with them – the last communication they had with their loved ones.
“Mom, it’s a matter of minutes,” she said, quoting Yotam’s last message to her. “They are almost here, and they are probably going to kill me.
“We didn’t have a goodbye, a last hug,” she said.
“We are left with the guilt which gnaws at the soul – how could it be that we were not there when they needed us more than anything.”
She emphasized that Hamas did not discriminate in its attack, targeting Jewish and Arab Israelis, secular and religious, and those of all political backgrounds.
One thing Haim said comforts her is that she is not alone; she lives within her nation, a nation that is still healing and mourning, she said.
“I feel Yotam is watching over me,” she said.