Following the announcement of a government ceremony to commemorate the events of October 7th, residents of the Gaza border communities expressed opposing views. While most kibbutzim announced that they would not participate in the ceremony, residents of the cities of Sderot and Ofakim expressed gratitude for the event and offered to host it in their area.
Shimon, a resident of Sderot, stated that in his opinion, the government should not be the one organizing the ceremony; rather, it should be the families of the hostages and the bereaved families. However, he emphasized that the ceremony should not be boycotted. “This government has failed; it’s a fiasco. But there are bereaved families for whom these ceremonies are important, and it shouldn’t be boycotted. It’s a state ceremony, and those who should manage it are the residents of the Gaza border communities together with the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers,” he said.
Residents of Ofakim also expressed their willingness to participate in the ceremony, and even host it in their city. Shimon Ben Kimmon, a resident of Ofakim, said, “I respect the kibbutzim’s decision and their deep feelings, but I believe that Ofakim and Sderot have made the right decision. We are one people, and we must not boycott such state ceremonies. I understand the anger of our brothers from the kibbutzim who experienced a horrific massacre on October 7th, but we must remain united.”
On the other hand, kibbutz members feel differently. Merav Cohen, a resident of Ein Hashlosha, said, “We refuse to stand alongside those who are responsible for the massacre we endured. They haven’t taken responsibility for it, they haven’t apologized to us, they don’t care for our basic needs, and worse, they haven’t signed a deal to save the hostages rotting in Hamas tunnels. Instead of focusing on honor and reverence, they should focus on rescuing the hostages and establishing a state commission of inquiry.”
The sentiments of the Sderot residents have resonated with decision-makers. Deputy Mayor of Sderot, Elad Kalimi, remarked, “It would be an honor for us to host the state memorial ceremony for the events of October 7th. Sderot has residents from across the political spectrum, and it is appropriate to hold a state event that remembers and honors the murdered and fallen. On Simchat Torah, hundreds of young and old people, from settlements and across the country, left-wing and right-wing, came to help their brothers and sisters. The last thing anyone cared about was the ideological identity of their brothers and sisters in the Gaza border communities, and that’s how it should be now,” he emphasized.
“I am confident that the ceremony will honor all the residents of Israel, just like the dignified state ceremony on Independence Day, and it is, of course, very important to involve the Gaza border communities in the production. The same criticisms that were heard about the Independence Day ceremony are being heard now, and in hindsight, we saw that a very state, sensitive, and worthy ceremony was produced that represented everyone, as opposed to the disgraceful torch-lighting ceremony that lacked any sense of statehood and only weakened the national spirit to the delight of Sinwar and the Hamas monsters.”
