On Monday morning, President Isaac Herzog embarked on a poignant memorial journey through the Gaza border communities, beginning at the site of the Nova Festival in Re’im, where a year ago, innocent lives were tragically taken in an attack that still haunts the nation. It was at precisely 06:29 AM that President Herzog arrived at the location, a place that now stands as a symbol of the brutal massacre that took place on October 7th, 2023, when terrorists from Hamas carried out a devastating and senseless assault on civilians.
The festival, meant to be a joyous gathering of music, dance, and celebration, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. During this attack, thousands of terrorists from Hamas, fueled by hatred, stormed through southern Israel, including the festival grounds. They launched a savage onslaught, murdering, raping, and abducting innocent civilians. Men, women, and children were ripped from their lives, families were torn apart, and many were taken hostage into Gaza, held in the dark dungeons and tunnels by Hamas.
President Herzog, accompanied by the bereaved families of the victims, stood solemnly at the site. He observed a moment of silence in honor of those who were mercilessly killed during the massacre. In a touching tribute, he laid a wreath and lit memorial candles, paying respect to the memories of those who lost their lives on that fateful day.
As he addressed the somber gathering, Herzog spoke of the gravity of that day, labeling October 7, 2023, as a day that will forever be remembered in infamy. He recounted the harrowing details of the attack, describing how “thousands of cruel terrorists broke into our homes, violated our families, burned, chopped, raped, hijacked and abducted our citizens, our brothers and sisters, and with them, people from 36 different nationalities.”
His words painted a grim picture of the devastation inflicted on innocent lives, calling it not only a scar on Israel but a scar on humanity itself. “This is a scar on the face of the Earth,” Herzog said, emphasizing the broader implications of such an atrocity. He described the Nova Festival massacre as a stain on the conscience of the world, one that must never be forgotten or ignored.
President Herzog used this somber moment to renew Israel’s urgent call for global solidarity. He called upon the world to stand with Israel in its ongoing struggle to bring home the hostages who are still held in Gaza. “We have to do whatever we can, by all ways and means possible, to bring back our hostages who are there in the tunnels and dungeons of Gaza,” he said, reflecting the national determination to rescue the abducted and bring them back to safety.
In a broader context, Herzog underscored the critical need for international support in Israel’s fight against terrorism. He stressed that this fight is not only for Israel but for the entire free world. “The world has to realize and understand that in order to change the course of history and bring peace, a better future to the region, it must support Israel in its battle against its enemies,” he declared. For Herzog, this is a defining moment in the region’s history—a battle between freedom and oppression, between peace and chaos.
He continued, “We are fighting the battle of the free world. We are fighting for a better future for the region. We are fighting for a future of peace. This cannot be done without enabling us to defeat our enemies and bring peace and a better direction to the entire region.” His speech carried a powerful message of hope, even in the face of overwhelming pain, urging for peace that could only be achieved through the defeat of those who seek destruction.
President Herzog concluded his address by paying tribute to those who lost their lives during the massacre. He spoke tenderly of the young people who came to the festival that day, seeking joy, music, and celebration, only to have their lives cut short in the most violent of ways. “Blessed be those who fell, who were murdered and killed here,” Herzog said. “Young people who came to celebrate and enjoy dance and music—to live a real life of young people as any young person should be entitled to.”
His voice filled with sorrow, Herzog called on the nation to remember these lives forever, to hold onto their memory as a reminder of what was lost, and to pray for their families, who continue to bear the weight of grief. “Let us pray, with remorse, pain, bereavement, and condolences to their families,” Herzog said, closing his tribute with a heartfelt call for unity, resilience, and remembrance.
As Israel continues to recover from the scars left by the massacre and fight on multiple fronts, Herzog’s memorial visit serves as a reminder of the human cost of this ongoing conflict and the need for both justice and peace.–News Desk