October Council Opens Exhibition Ahead of October 7 Anniversary in Jaffa
The "Space Left Behind" exhibition opened in Jaffa ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, featuring personal artifacts and testimonies gathered by bereaved families.
The "Space Left Behind" exhibition by the October Council opened on Saturday evening at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Jaffa, marking the approach of the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre. Alongside personal belongings and exhibits dedicated to the victims and fallen soldiers, families of the victims revealed testimonies and information gathered from dozens of meetings with senior political and security officials, announcing that they will publish additional documents, testimonies, and findings in the coming days.
Testimonies and Public Figures
The opening event featured speeches by several notable figures, including released hostage Sagi Dekel-Hhen, Shlomo Sharf, Ofri Bibas, Avi Marciano, Sharon Eshel, Amit Idan, and Reut Hecht Edri. Additional participants included freed hostages and bereaved families such as Arbel Yehud, Ariel and David Cunio, Einav Zangauker, Ruby and Hagit Chen, and Ayala Metzger. Representatives from political parties committed to establishing a state commission of inquiry also attended, including Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, Benny Gantz, and Rafi Ben Shitrit.
Preserving Memory and Life
The October Council stated that the exhibition tells the story of the October 7 victims through the objects they left behind, focusing on their lives prior to the tragedy rather than solely on their deaths. Featured installations include forty-four ceramic stars commemorating murdered children, the "Sticker Serenade" combining memorial phrases with families' voices, and the original armchair of the late Itzik Elgarat from Nir Oz.
