Families of Israeli hostage-takers plan to abstain from the October 7 commemoration due to prolonged ceasefire negotiations.
"The Israeli government's failure to successfully negotiate the release of the hostages makes it impossible to draw a conclusion to this situation, as stated by the Hostage Families Forum on Wednesday. Since October 7, the situation has been at a standstill."
The government had planned a formal memorial event on October 7, marking a year since Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Transport Minister Miri Regev, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, was appointed to oversee the memorial.
"It's been a year since our citizens were left stranded during the most devastating incident in Israel's history. One-hundred-and-nineteen hostages are still missing, and neither the survivors nor the deceased have been properly cared for or returned to their families. The bodies of those slain have not been given proper burials either," the forum added.
Instead, the forum opted to join communities in the Gaza border region and southern Israel for October 7 commemorations.
Prolonged negotiations intended to free the hostages in exchange for a ceasefire in Gaza have repeatedly fallen through, with mediators such as the United States, Qatar, and Egypt working tirelessly to secure an agreement. Israel has made it clear that they will not bring an end to the conflict until Hamas is eradicated from Gaza and they retain control over the Gaza-Egypt border, restricting movement of armed personnel from the southern portion of the strip to the north. Hamas has dismissed these demands.
At the moment, there are 109 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, with 36 believed to be deceased, as per information from the Israeli government press office. Six Israeli hostages were recently recovered from tunnels in Gaza during an Israeli military operation in Khan Younis.
The Israeli conflict with Gaza began in response to Hamas-affiliated militants launching an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,200 people and the capture of more than 250 hostages, as per Israeli authorities. Over 40,200 people have perished in Gaza as a result of the conflict, as reported by Palestinian authorities.
"Do what is just"
The families of the hostages have consistently accused Netanyahu of delaying negotiations and abandoning the captives while prioritizing the maintenance of his governing coalition. Hardline ministers within his cabinet have threatened to dissolve the government if he agrees to end the conflict.
"Together, we'll demand security, the return of our loved ones, the rehabilitation of our communities, and an investigation into the errors that led to the horrific tragedy of October 7," the forum declared.
The boycott announcement was made following a series of kibbutzim (Israeli agricultural communes) in the Gaza border region announcing their withdrawal from the memorial. According to Kan, an Israeli public broadcaster and a CNN affiliate, several kibbutzim that were targeted during October 7 – including Be’eri, Re’im, Nirim, Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz, Nir Oz, Yad Mordechai, and Nir Yitzhak – will not attend the event.
However, representatives from the towns of Ofakim and Sderot will participate, as per Kan.
Benny Gantz, the leader of Israel's National Unity party and a former war cabinet member, voiced his opinion on Wednesday: "It should be the affected communities – and not Regev – organizing the event. The essence of this day ought to be determined by those who experienced the fiery inferno: the residents of the Western Negev settlements, the hostages and their families, the families of the fallen, and the wounded. Regev, it's not too late to reconsider and do what is just. Delegate the responsibility for managing the ceremony to the Minister of Culture, establish a joint steering committee with the leaders of the Western Negev communities and the bereaved families, and truly listen to them."
The memorial event planned by the Israeli government for October 7, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack, was initially intended to honor the hostages and the victims. However, due to the ongoing standstill in negotiations to secure the hostages' release, the Hostage Families Forum opted to join communities in the Middle East, specifically in areas near the Gaza border, for the commemorations.
