Another week has gone by, and still, 109 hostages remain in Gaza. This week saw the return of six bodies following a military operation to rescue them from captivity. As thoughts and prayers extend to the remaining captives, one cannot help but wonder when this harrowing ordeal will conclude and deliver the solace we’ve awaited for nearly a year. Amid this ongoing crisis, a new and unexpected controversy has emerged from the direction of the current government: a proposed memorial ceremony for the events of October 7. The specifics are as follows: Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who oversees state ceremonies, has been appointed to organize the official memorial event for the horrific massacre that irrevocably changed our lives. The ceremony is slated for October 7, 2024, exactly one year later—it’s alarmingly soon. This announcement, which made headlines almost casually, appeared to be an afterthought. But, contrary to any expectation of it being ignored, it hasn’t been. A memorial ceremony is certainly logical and appropriate, given that not a day goes by without memories of that dreadful morning—when we initially dismissed the alarms as either a mistake or, at worst, a horn test. But here’s the pressing issue: isn’t it painfully transparent that the same government in power when these events occurred is unsuited to orchestrate the ceremony? Why hasn’t anyone within the administration recognized this as a critical oversight? Even those known for their reliability are silent. At a time when we are all hoping for a breakthrough at the Qatar summit and progress on the hostage negotiations, this announcement starkly reminds us that political cynicism remains undiminished. Resistance was quick to surface. Numerous kibbutzim near Gaza have already declared their intention to hold independent memorial ceremonies. This move further deepens the division between those who endorse the state-led commemoration and those who vehemently oppose it. Among them are individuals who were awaiting a visit from the Prime Minister to express his condolences, juxtaposed with those who anticipated that he wouldn’t come. Indeed, more than 300 days have passed since these tragedies, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to visit any affected communities. This glaring omission speaks volumes, even as I write these words. In summary, sometimes reality defies all expectations. The absurdity of these developments feels as though a pre-written script is being circulated to us all. This time, however, it’s shockingly real. Looking ahead, it is likely that there will be no state memorial ceremony, which, needless to say, would exclude a public audience. And this will likely occur while hostages remain in captivity. The pressing question remains: why hasn’t there been more internal dissent from those responsible for oversight within the government? Regrettably, I have no answer to that question. —Michal Kadosh (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)
This holiday season, give to:
Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
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