Jerusalem, 6 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Around 2,000 residents of the Eshkol Regional Council gathered Tuesday evening for a memorial ceremony honoring 259 residents murdered during the October 7, 2023 massacre.
The ceremony marked Three Years since the Hamas-led attack that devastated communities across the Gaza border region. Among those attending were bereaved families, former hostages, wounded survivors of the fighting and residents of Eshkol communities.
The event began at 7 p.m., with the main ceremony starting at 8 p.m. Speakers included Eshkol Regional Council head Michal Uziyahu, Yair Wisner, who was critically wounded and lost his hand fighting in Kerem Shalom, and bereaved relatives who lost family members on October 7.
Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Barot addressed the gathering, acknowledging the military’s failure to protect residents and praising their courage. He vowed that Israel would continue fighting Hamas and defending the communities of the Negev.