London, October 6(HS): Thousands of people filled Trafalgar Square on Sunday to commemorate the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel — the deadliest assault in the country’s history. The solemn gathering, adorned with candles, flags, and portraits of hostages, reflected both grief and resilience amid continuing conflict in Gaza.
The vigil coincided with similar commemorations held across the UK, including Manchester, where participants also mourned victims of a deadly attack outside a synagogue just days earlier.Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, addressed the London crowd, stressing the community’s determination “to confront antisemitism wherever it appears.”
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis echoed the sentiment, saying, “Today, we recall the precious lives mercilessly taken on October 7 — and all the subsequent suffering that followed.”
Many attendees carried placards displaying the names and faces of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Among the speakers was Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents were kidnapped during the attacks. Her father, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, died in captivity, while her mother, Yocheved, was released later that month.
“It has been nearly two years since our lives were torn apart,” she said. “We will never forget our loved ones, nor the horror they endured.”
In Manchester, hundreds gathered for a rally organized by North West Friends of Israel, waving British and Israeli flags and calling for the safe return of hostages. The event took place under tight security following Thursday’s attack on a synagogue in the city, which left two men dead.The memorials came amid heightened tensions following pro-Palestine demonstrations in London the previous day, where nearly 500 protesters were arrested.
While Jewish organizations criticised the timing as insensitive, others, including Jewish member Zoe Cohen of Defend Our Juries, argued for compassion for “victims of multiple atrocities,” saying, “If today’s vigil had been cancelled, we would have been letting terror win.”
Commemorations are scheduled to continue Tuesday in Israel and worldwide, marking two years since Hamas’s coordinated assault that left some 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. In response, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza — now in its 24th month — has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run authorities, and displaced nearly the entire population.
As international mediators prepare to meet in Egypt on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects Hamas to release Israeli hostages “very soon,” under a new 20-point American peace proposal aimed at halting the fighting and initiating prisoner exchanges.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
