Against the backdrop of Israel’s most sacred day of remembrance, peace activists in Israel hosted their annual Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony on Sunday night, with simultaneous events in London, New York, and Los Angeles.
The ceremony, organized by Combatants for Peace and the Parents Circle — Families Forum, aims to acknowledge not only Israeli sorrow but also the impact of Palestinian suffering throughout the years. This year’s event held special significance following the recent deadly attack on Israel by Hamas and the ongoing devastation in Gaza.
This year’s ceremony, established in 2006, was prerecorded to prevent potential disruptions by protesters. Past ceremonies faced criticism and legal challenges in Israel, and just before the broadcast, organizers reported that their website had been hacked. Consequently, viewers had to watch the ceremony on Facebook instead of YouTube as planned.
The ceremony, a focal point for peace activists in Israel, included speeches, songs, a peace poem, and a video featuring children from Israel and the West Bank discussing the impact of war. One child expressed a wish for the deceased to come back to life. Due to restrictions on Palestinians working in Israel after the Hamas attacks, Palestinians from the West Bank did not attend in person. Additionally, there were no contributions from speakers in Gaza.
Yuval Rahamim, co-director of the Parents Circle — Families Forum, described the ceremony as provocative but significant in light of the ongoing conflict. He emphasized the need for change and unity in the face of long-standing violence.
Magen Inon, a peace activist who lost his parents in the recent attack, shared his perspective at the London event, urging against using personal tragedies to justify further conflict. He emphasized the importance of preventing the exploitation of individual pain for political purposes.
Despite lingering national grief and shock, many Israelis are beginning to question the ongoing conflict and the repercussions of the war in Gaza. The ceremony served as a platform for reflection and dialogue on the path towards peace.
2024-05-13 10:42:10
Original from www.nytimes.com