Riga gathering at Freedom Monument remembers victims of 7 October attack
About 100 people gathered at the Freedom Monument in Riga to remember those killed or abducted in the attack on Israel three years ago. Defence Minister Raivis Melnis was among the attendees.
Around 100 people gathered at the Freedom Monument in Riga this evening, starting at 6 p.m., to commemorate those killed or abducted three years ago in the attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas and other armed groups, the news agency LETA reported.
Several attendees wrapped themselves in Israeli flags, and a Latvian flag stood beside an Israeli one at the monument. Candles were lit during the event, and some participants occasionally sang quietly.
Posters with details of the victims
Three posters were set up at the monument. One showed Latvian citizen Shiran Gonen, a mother of three, and stated that she was killed by Hamas militants at the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023. Another poster said that more than 1,200 people were killed in the attack, 251 were abducted and over 4,800 were wounded.
Attendees and organisers
The event was attended by Defence Minister Raivis Melnis, Saeima Secretary Jānis Grasbergs (National Alliance) and former defence minister Artis Pabriks, now executive director of the MilTech Latvia association. The vigil was organised by the Latvian Jewish community and the association Jewnited, which invited people to light candles, honour the dead and remember the abducted.
Situation in the Gaza Strip
The Israeli army has expanded its control of the Gaza Strip from 53% to roughly 60% of the territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in September that the armed forces would hold these positions. He did not say whether that would apply if Hamas laid down its weapons. In August, Netanyahu had indicated Israel might withdraw in such a case, stressing that the country would do everything possible to achieve its goal of disarming Hamas.
