In an atmosphere of emotion, it was held earlier this afternoon, at Jewish Synagogue of Athensa memorial service in memory of the Israeli citizens and soldiers lost in the terrorist attack by Hamas, exactly one year ago on October 7, 2023.

Israel’s ambassador in Athens, Noam Katz, said: “Today marks one year since the darkest day for the people of Israel. Hamas terrorists attacked, raping, kidnapping, inhumanely and brutally killing 1200 people, while 101 people remain captive. We are here today for the memorial service, while the trauma still remains deep, an open wound that continues to bleed. But we cannot let sadness and despair overwhelm us, but instead we must turn our grief into strength. We will come out stronger, as always, the Jewish people have proven it in history. I hope and wish that all the captives will soon return to their homes and that peace will prevail.”

The president of the Central Jewish Council of Greece, David Saltiel, pointed out: “And yet, a year has passed since the pogrom of October 7, 2023, and the world seems to have chosen to forget that day. But we don’t, we count the days, 367. We share the pain of the relatives of the victims and the anguish of the relatives of the hostages. For them, every day that dawns is a new October 7th. It was a quiet autumn morning in Israel, a day of celebration turned into a day of mourning. It was the day of unparalleled and raging hatred of the Hamas terrorists. It was manifested with beheadings of children, executions of families, rapes, kidnappings, cold shootings of young people, who were singing and dancing. 1200 people were slaughtered in the most inhuman ways and 250 were kidnapped and are being held hostage in the dark tunnels of Gaza. It is estimated that today 101 hostages may still be alive. It was the day terrorism struck the West and continues to do so. Today we remember and remind the world how Israel’s war on terror began and wonder what state would let such an attack go unanswered. We are not indifferent to the devastating humanitarian crisis that the war has brought to Gaza. The people of Gaza are suffering and the percentage who do not support Hamas are suffering doubly from the war, but also from the tyrants to whom they are captive, from the terrorists who use the innocent, who use the innocent as human shields, who hide weapons and ammunition in cemeteries and playgrounds. Today we make one more appeal for the release of the hostages and one more prayer for the end of the war and the prevalence of peace. Here I would like to highlight the strong stance of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the government for the just struggle of the people of Israel.”

The president of the Israeli community of Athens, Albertos Taramboulos, during his speech said, among other things: “I wish we didn’t have to be all here today. A year now, full of mourning and agony. 101 hostages have not yet returned home. They are unjustly detained and tortured by the terrorist organization Hamas. Over 1200 additional victims, thousands injured, over 70,000 have left their homes. A year when we hear descriptions of rapes, beheadings, kidnappings of innocent citizens. We hurt and shudder at the thought, at the sight of unimaginable images, at the war sirens sounding in the year 2024. The battle is fierce and unequal. This particular conflict is symbolized by the civilized world’s struggle to defend itself against terrorist organizations and regimes that challenge democracy, equality, freedom and the independence of a state. The rise of terrorism neither starts nor stops in Israeli lands. It is a threat to human civilization and global cohesion. Today we remember the lost victims, we pray for the release of the hostages. In the dark times we are experiencing, however, we do not lose hope. The wounds are many, the gaps difficult to fill, but by agreeing on common bases, we can write a new chapter of peace and harmonious coexistence, definitively and irrevocably leaving behind us the blackest pages of history”.

During the ceremony, a video edited by the Israeli embassy was shown, showing the pain and hope of the people of Israel, through hardships and losses.

A special moment of the event was the description of two Israeli victims of the attack on October 7, at the “Nova” music festival, who survived the terrorist attack and shared their own story with the attendees. Living examples of courage and endurance, they captivated those present with their testimonies: “As the bullets whizzed past our heads, we had to make a quick decision and run. Without knowing where to move, only with our instinct and following the rising sun. After 4.5 hours of walking and 24 kilometers, without water, without food and with a lack of sleep for many hours, we arrived safely at a point. Unfortunately, our friends didn’t make it. In the days following the murderous attack, we were trying to come to terms with what we had been through and how we had managed to survive while others had not.”

As part of the memorial prayer, those present observed a minute’s silence, while the rabbi of Athens prayed, among other things, for “true, just and lasting peace”. After the national anthem of Israel and the Greek national anthem were played, after the end of the memorial prayer, those gathered on their way out lit candles for the victims, as a sign of collective memory and sorrow.