Bulgaria’s Jewish community marks anniversary of Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel

In a post on Facebook, the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria Shalom marked the first anniversary of the October 7 2023 attack on Israel by terrorist group Hamas, issuing a reminder that it was the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust and that 101 hostages were still waiting to be rescued.

“One year ago at 6.29am. Saturday, on the holiday of Simchat Torah, a day when children visited their parents in kibbutzim near Gaza and youths celebrated at a music festival in southern Israel, the deadliest attack occurred on Jews after the Holocaust,” Shalom said.

Six thousand armed Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and slaughtered 935 civilian Israeli citizens – youths while dancing, entire families in their homes – children, babies, men, women and adults, and 364 young soldiers – on military bases or while on duty, the organisation said.

“They brutally tortured, raped, burned and dismembered the bodies of women, men and children, and all this was captured on camera and broadcast live.

“One year since terrorists kidnapped 251 Israeli citizens and foreigners. Still, 101 hostages are waiting to be rescued. Among them are two minor children. They wait 366 days in the tunnels of Hamas.”

The embassy of the State of Israel in Sofia posted on October 6 about the decorating of gazebos in three parks in the Bulgarian capital city in honour of the memory of the victims of the attack of October 7 and a reminder of the Israeli hostages who have been held captive in Gaza for a whole year.

The decorating of the gazebos was themed “October 6 – the last day of light”.

“The aim of the artists is to provoke the residents of the city to travel back in time with all of us, back to October 6 2023, the last bright and peaceful day for all Israelis – Jews, Muslims and Christians, as well as for all Jews around the world, suffering from the rising tide of antisemitism,” the embassy said.

On October 7, an official memorial ceremony is to be held at Sofia Central Synagogue.

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said in a statement on October 6 that there could be no justification for Hamas’s acts of terror.

“They brought immense suffering not only upon the people of Israel, but also upon innocent Palestinians,” Von der Leyen said.

“On this tragic anniversary, I want to honour the memories of the victims. The European Union stands with all the innocent people whose lives have been shattered to the core since that fateful day.

“We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for the unconditional release of all hostages and for an end to the conflict. We support the ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement.

“Today our hearts are also with the Jewish communities across the world. Antisemitic incidents are again rising sharply. We must collectively fight this evil wherever it spreads – including online,” said Von Leyen, adding that she would devote more resources to the goal of combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.