Official commemoration event of October 7
The Embassy of Israel, alongside the Central Jewish Consultation (CJO), hosted a commemoration event of October 7. The event took place at the Rav Aron Schuster Synagogue in Amsterdam-Zuid, drawing an audience of approximately 400 guests, including prominent Dutch officials such as Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Ministers Marjolein Faber, Mona Keijzer, and Caspar Veldkamp, as well as several party leaders and members of Parliament.
The event featured speeches, music, and short films that captured the horrors experienced a year ago. Yotam Cohen and Noam Shafir shared their experiences and the pain of having loved ones taken hostage. Noam's grandfather, 86-year-old Moshe Mantzur, and Yotam's brother have been held hostage in Gaza for over a year now. Their stories underscored the enduring trauma faced by families.
Chanan Hertzberger, Chairman of the CJO, spoke candidly about the rising anti-Semitism in the Netherlands, urging the public to stand against hatred and support the Jewish community. Ambassador Modi Ephraim expressed gratitude for the support received since October 7, noting the solidarity shown by many Dutch citizens. He reiterated, "For us, it is still October 7," emphasizing the ongoing impact of the tragedy on the Israeli community.
The evening included a video message from Ofir Engel, a 17-year-old boy with Dutch citizenship, who was held captive for 54 days in Gaza, thanking the Dutch government for their assistance in securing his release.
The commemoration concluded with a song of hope, highlighting joyful moments of reunions and the births of new lives in the after
math of the tragedy. As the final images projected onto the screens reflected resilience and unity, the embassy reaffirmed its commitment to supporting those affected and promoting peace and the return of the remaining 101 hostages that are still being held captive in Gaza.