Eli Sharabi, Former Hostage, to Lead Tel Aviv Memorial for Oct 7 Massacre

Former hostage Eli Sharabi, who lost his entire family in the October 7 Hamas attacks, will co-host a grassroots memorial ceremony in Tel Aviv marking the second anniversary of the massacre. The event, organized by the NGO Kumu, will take place in Yarkon Park on October 7 and will serve as the only major public commemoration in the absence of a national state ceremony, organizers announced Sunday. Alongside Sharabi, Israeli actress Shani Cohen will co-host the event, which will bring together bereaved families, former hostages, artists, and representatives from affected communities.

Kumu, founded in 2024, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the memorial, which aims to honor the 1,200 people killed and the over 240 taken hostage during the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on southern Israel. The grassroots initiative reflects growing public demand for public remembrance as families and survivors continue to grapple with the physical and emotional toll of the attacks.

Sharabi, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri—one of several communities along the Gaza border devastated by Hamas fighters—spent 491 days in captivity before being released in February 2025 as part of a second hostage-prisoner exchange deal. Upon his return, he learned that his wife, Liyan, and their two daughters, Noya and Yahel, had been murdered during the October 7 attack. His brother, Yossi Sharabi, was also killed while in Hamas captivity.

“I don’t think October 7 should ever fade from our memory,” Sharabi said in a statement. “Time must not erase this day. There must be a national, meaningful ceremony—one that acknowledges our pain and our resilience. The wound is still open. This event will be difficult, but it’s necessary.”

Cohen, who will co-host the memorial, emphasized the importance of collective healing. “I am proud to stand beside someone who has chosen life despite unbearable loss,” she said. “Our shared strength in the face of such pain is what inspires me and what we aim to share with others.”

Last year’s ceremony drew approximately 25,000 participants to Yarkon Park, demonstrating the public’s enduring commitment to remembrance. Organizers expect a similar turnout this year. The event will include speeches, artistic performances, and moments of silence to honor the victims of October 7 and the ongoing pain of survivors and families.

Kumu’s initiative highlights the gap left by the absence of an official state ceremony and underscores the role of civil society in preserving national memory.

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