Tears on the Wall of Tears… Thirty days after October 7, 1,400 candles were lit in front of the Wall of Tears, Judaism’s holiest site in Jerusalem, during a ceremony attended by families of victims of the Hamas attack, reports AFP.

In the late afternoon, nearly 40 families of people killed during the Palestinian Islamist movement’s onslaught gathered at the entrance to the holiest prayer site for Jews, located in Israeli-occupied and annexed East Jerusalem.

Those taking part in the ceremony lit nearly 1,400 candles bearing the names of the victims, recited the Kaddish prayer for the dead and psalms before singing Israel’s national anthem.

Government war council member Benny Gantz, previously one of the main opposition leaders, was also present.

At least 1,400 people died on the Israeli side, according to authorities, mostly civilians killed on the same day of the unprecedented attack by Hamas, which also kidnapped more than 240 it is holding hostage.

Jewish tradition provides a series of rituals for mourning, whose the fourth stage ends on the 30th day.

“We light these candles in memory of the victims, in memory of their souls,” said Mordechai Elias, director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which manages the site.

Yossi Rivlin, 26, recited a psalm in memory of his brothers Gideon and Aviad, who were killed at the Tribe of Nova rave party, where two of his other brothers survived.

“We have no other means to to pay tribute to them except with prayers, lighting candles, and having them in our hearts,” he told AFP.

“It’s a horrible time. I just hope we don’t forget and don’t go back to our routine,” he added.

Standing in front of a huge Israeli flag and the wall, Israel Defense Forces choirmaster Sai Abramson recited a prayer of the Jewish burial ritual for the people who perished.

wall of tears

His recitation included a prayer for the security forces who “pay with their deaths to protect the land of Israel,” he said.

A remnant of the ancient temple, the Wall of Tears lies below Mosque Square, which was built on what Jews call the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site.

Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, tensions have been high in East Jerusalem located in the Old City, which is deserted by tourists.

After the October 7 attack, Israel is pounding the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas government’s health ministry, the war is already claiming more of 10,000 dead on this ground, most among them were civilians.