NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Monday marks one year since Hamas killed over 1,200 people and kidnapped over 250 more in a terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Commemorations are planned in New York and beyond, including a ceremony in Central Park that Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams will attend. Police have increased security in the city for the anniversary, which comes amid escalating conflict in the Mideast. A full list of NYC events to commemorate Oct. 7 can be found here.
HERE'S THE LATEST:
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. -- Oct. 7: One Year Later commemoration held in Central Park
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., New York’s community-wide gathering hosted by the UJA-Federation of New York, Jewish Community Relations Council and the Hostage and Missing Families Forum commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attack was held in Central Park to honor the victims, survivors and hostages.
The event was live streamed on the official UJA-Federation of New York X account.
Thousands, including elected officials, families of hostages, Nova festival survivors and representatives of NYC Jewish and interfaith communities met at Rumsey Playfield, near Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street, for the event.
The first event speaker was Nova festival survivor Natalie Sanandaji, who began her recollection of the attack with the statement “A year ago, I was dancing. A year ago, the music stopped.”
Sanandaji had been in Israel for a wedding, and attended the music festival with several of her friends to celebrate. When the attack broke out, she decided to keep moving instead of hiding, and was saved by an Israeli man who drove into the area to try and help those being targeted. Her friends who remained behind were killed.
“I was lucky. I survived. Twelve hundred others did not. Including 360 people who had been listening to music with me, dancing peacefully,” she said. “The unfathomable horrors I experienced that morning have transformed me, along with every single Israeli and every single Jew.”
Sanandaji emphasized the strength that the Israeli community has gained from the Jewish diaspora in the last year, and said that “it is not our way to succumb to victimhood,” before introducing Gilad Segev of Project Heroes.
He showed a video commemoration and gave a vocal performance to tell the story of some of those who risked their lives to protect others.
Former president of the UJA-Federation of New York, Alisa Doctoroff, took the podium next and introduced, alongside CEO of the JCRC of New York Mark Treyger, the elected officials who have been steadfast in their support of Israel the past year.
“At every moment since October 7, our elected leaders have been there with us, sharing our grief as our community has mourned, standing with us in unwavering support and solidarity, and ensuring that every kind of support that we need, that Israel needs, to fight to protect its people is there,” Doctoroff said. “We are indeed fortunate to have leaders of such strength and stature and caliber here in New York.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, NYS Attorney General Letitia James, NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Mayor Eric Adams were ushered to the stage for a candle lighting ceremony, while other elected leaders in attendance were thanked and acknowledged on the screen overhead.
“Tonight, we gathered to remember the innocent lives lost one year ago in the brutal attack on Israel,” Hochul wrote after the event. “We pray for the victims and their loved ones. We pray for the safe return of all hostages. And we pray for peace.”
El Maleh Rachamim, the Jewish prayer for the departed, was chanted at the event as local Rabbis took to the stage to lead the community in mourning. Later, a group of interfaith leaders added their prayers at the podium in a showing of solidarity.
Others more directly impacted by the Oct. 7 attack, including Nova survivor Ron Segev and the parents of hostage Omer Neutra, Ronen and Orna, took turns speaking. They shared their personal experiences while echoing messages of support, peace and the need to release the hostages.
Performances were given by choirs from local schools, and 2024 Eurovision star Eden Golan, who sang her song “October Rain,” which commemorates the terror attack.
4 p.m. -- Parents of hostage Omer Neutra, of Long Island, say hostages are 'running out of time'
Omer Neutra from Plainview, Long Island, was taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terror attack. To commemorate the one-year anniversary of his abduction, Neutras parents were joined by diplomats and the American Jewish Committee at a ceremony in Midtown East.
A video presentation at the event showed the names of all those killed and taken hostage during the attack. Since that day, Ronen and Orna Neutra have been advocating for Omer’s safe return.
“It’s a dire humanitarian issue and we need all hands on deck. Omer and the other 100 hostages are running out of time,” Ronen said.
Omer is one of four American hostages still held captive in an increasingly dangerous situation as the Israel-Hamas War continues, and Ronen acknowledged that “every moment in captivity is a risk to their lives and well-being.”
Next week, Omer will turn 23.
“No 23-year-old should be celebrating their birthday in terror dungeons,” Orna said.
The couple said that they will never stop fighting for their son’s safe release.
3:30 p.m. – At the UN, multiple remembrance events honor Oct. 7 victims
Multiple events were held at the UN headquarters in Midtown Manhattan on Monday to honor and remember the victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on southern Israel.
The “Eternal Embrace,” a photo exhibit that was created by Ifat Peer and captures the stories of 25 mothers whose children were murdered in the attack, was presented.
One of the featured mothers, Sigal Manzuri—whose daughters, ages 22 and 25, were killed at the Nova music festival—shared an emotional moment with U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. The two held hands as they toured the exhibit alongside Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon.
A ceremony titled “Remembrance and Resilience: October 7: A Year On” was attended by ambassadors from different UN member states and dignitaries, and drew a crowd of hundreds of attendees.
Among the spectators was Bill Ackman, hedge fund manager and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, who told 1010 WINS that he was attending to “support Israel, of course,” and that it was important the event be held at the UN “to bring the world together, ultimately.”
Emcee Liz Claman of Fox Business introduced the event, and showed the crowd disturbing footage from the Nova festival attack, to help the crowd understand the “sheer cruelty and barbarity of terrorism.” While Claman acknowledged the footage was extremely difficult to watch, she challenged the crowd to "consider the alternative: turning away from the brave Israelis in their darkest hour.”
Thomas-Greenfield soon after took to the podium and gave a passionate speech focused on the victims of Oct. 7, those murdered and taken hostage alike, and referenced the dozens of conversations she’s had with families of victims.
“I heard over and over again the urgent desire, the need really, to honor their beloved by pursuing the end of violence,” she said. “By bringing the hostages home once and for all. By holding their humanity and the humanity of every innocent person, Israeli and Palestinian, who want and deserve to live in safety and dignity and freedom.”
The event was rounded out by a multi-faith group that stepped up to the podium to acknowledge the killing of both Christians and Muslims on Oct. 7, and Eurovision star Eden Golan, who sang her song “October Rain,” inspired by the Nova festival attack, and the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah.”
2 p.m. -- Biden, Harris, Trump and other US leaders mark Oct. 7
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are marking the first anniversary of the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust as the presidential candidates approach the final weeks of the campaign during a widening conflict in the Middle East.
Trump will visit the New York City gravesite of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who led the Chabad-Lubavitch movement of Orthodox Judaism from 1951 until his death in 1994. Trump then will speak before Jewish community leaders at one of his Florida resorts in the Miami suburb of Doral.
Harris will briefly speak to journalists and, with her husband, plant a pomegranate tree on the grounds of the Vice President’s Residence in honor of the those killed a year ago.
Earlier Monday, Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, recited a prayer for peace at an event to commemorate the anniversary hosted by the American Jewish Committee in Washington.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden also hosted a somber memorial ceremony at the White House Monday to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack. The president lit a lone memorial candle placed on a small table at the center of the Blue Room, before they observed a moment of silence.
Earlier in the day, Biden spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the White House said.
12:45 p.m. -- Uniformed officers flood the streets to 'keep the peace'
NYPD brass and Mayor Eric Adams met in lower Manhattan to speak to a large group of uniformed officers that are being deployed Monday as part of what multiple officials called an “all hands on deck” approach to “keeping the peace.”
Protests, demonstrations and rallies are expected throughout the city, and Adams thanked the crowd of cops before emphasizing that while everyone has the right to protest, maintaining peace and safety is the top priority.
“I thank you for being out here, making sure that those who protest, protest peacefully, those who are recognizing the one-year of a terrible tragedy that took place, and they want to do it in a peaceful way, we can do it here in New York City,” Adams said to the officers.
Chief of Patrol John Chell emphasized that all officers must maintain their professionalism, even in the face of potential anti-police rhetoric, but to intervene in the case of lawlessness.
“Be professional. Keep the peace. Protect everyone’s First Amendment [which] we say every day, but the moment again it crosses over into violence, destruction of property, blocking traffic, lighting flares, graffiti, that’s where we draw the line,” Chell said.
Authorities said that eight drone teams will also aid public safety by monitoring the situation overhead.
11:45 a.m. -- Flags lowered, buildings to be lit yellow in NYC
Flags on city buildings have been lowered to half-staff and several municipal buildings will be illuminated for the Oct. 7 anniversary, Mayor Eric Adams said as he called for the "safe return of hostages still held captive by Hamas."
The following buildings will be lit yellow on Monday night: City Hall; Bronx County Courthouse; David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building; Queens Borough Hall; and Staten Island Borough Hall.
In a statement, Adams said: “One year ago today, people of all faiths and creeds gathered at the Nova Music Festival in Israel to sing songs of peace and coexistence. With the brutal murder of more than 1,200 innocent men, women, and children by cowardly terrorists, a part of all of us died that day. Hundreds more were taken hostage in the aftermath, and many still remain in captivity today.”
The mayor continued: “And as we see the devastation wrought on innocent people in the Middle East in the aftermath of this unprovoked attack, the thought of peace becomes even more distant. But that is exactly why we must continue to strive for peace — for the safe return of all of the hostages, for the defeat of Hamas, and for an end to this deadly conflict. To those who plan to use this day to peacefully protest, that is your right. As you do so, remember to follow the law and I ask you to please hold a place in your hearts for those who lost everything a year ago today.”
11 a.m. – Hochul and Adams to attend Central Park commemoration
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams will attend an event in Central Park on Monday evening commemorating one year since Oct. 7.
Both the governor and mayor are set to attend the ceremony, which is being held by the Jewish Community Relations Council and UJA-Federation of New York, according to their schedules.
Adams will also meet with NYPD officers in the morning to thank them for working their Oct. 7 security details.
Hochul spoke at the Temple Israel Center in Westchester on Sunday, saying in part, "My heart is full of anger, frustration. But also, I found some room for some hope. And I'll keep that hope alive with all of you as we stand together and never forget those 1,200 people and the hostages who are still held, including seven Americans; including our own Omer Nutra, from Long Island. I met his relatives when I was there. I met his mom and dad so many times. I've held them. I'm a mom myself. I can't imagine what it's like to go through another round of holidays again with that empty seat at the table."
Watch Hocuhl's address:
10:30 a.m. -- US State Dept. marks anniversary of Oct. 7
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement Monday on the anniversary of Oct. 7, saying the U.S. stands with Israel and continues to push for a lasting peace in the region.
"Today, we mark a devastating and tragic anniversary. On October 7, 2023, more than 1,200 men, women and children, including 46 Americans and citizens of more than 30 countries, were slaughtered by Hamas – the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Girls and women were sexually assaulted. The depravity of Hamas’s crimes is almost unspeakable," Blinken said.
Blinken went on to say that 12 Americans were among those taken hostage—four were killed, four were released and four remain in captivity in Gaza. The secretary of state called for a ceasefire agreement to bring the rest of the hostages home, ends the suffering of the Israeli and Palestinian people and brings an end to the war.
"On this painful anniversary, the United States stands with Israel as it defends itself against terrorism," Blinken said. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to lasting peace and stability across the region and for a common future for Israelis and Palestinians with equal measures of security, dignity, opportunity, and freedom."
Read the full statement:
10 a.m. – Rabbi urges unity as antisemitism surges 200% in US
Rabbi Joshua Davidson, of Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side, urged all New Yorkers to come together Monday to mark the anniversary of Oct. 7.
“It’s been a very painful year for the Jewish community here in the United States, with the spike in antisemitism, of course, all triggered by Oct. 7 and Israel’s necessary actions to defend itself in the months that followed,” Davidson said.
He said people are coming together “to remember the 1,200 who perished, the 250 who were abducted, some of whom have also since died, some of whom are still there in Gaza.”
“There are certain events in modern Jewish history that have been watersheds—1948, 1967, 1973,” Davidson said. “Oct. 7, 2023, is going to be one of those dates.”
Davidson said it’s a solemn time as the fighting continues in the Mideast.
“We worry about that war escalating, but we certainly insist on Israel’s right to protect itself and protect its people,” the rabbi said.
There have been over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since last Oct. 7, according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League—a spike of over 200%.
“That is more antisemitic incidents than any ADL office has every dealt with in any one-year period since our founding in 1913,” said Scott Richman, the New York/New Jersey regional director of the ADL.
The New York area continues to lead the nation when it comes to antisemitic incidents, Richman said.
“It’s always been that way, and it continues to be as a metropolitan area,” he said. “New York City has way more antisemitic incidents than any other metropolitan area.”
9:30 a.m. – NYPD ups security for Oct. 7 anniversary
The NYPD has increased security in the city for the Oct. 7 anniversary, which falls between Rosh Hashanah last week and Yom Kippur, which is this Friday.
The NYPD sent a memo to officers Friday, reading: "All uniformed members of the service are to remain prepared for mobilization at any time during their assigned tour."
Rallies, protests and commemorations are expected Monday in connection with the anniversary of Hamas' attack and the ongoing fighting between Israel and the U.S.-designated terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said last week that she had directed state police to coordinate with local law enforcement “to ensure the safety of all communities.”
Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD brass said last week that they had ramped up security citywide for the Jewish High Holy Days and Oct. 7. They said there were no credible threats to the city and the increased security was a precaution.