The European Jewish Congress (EJC), alongside the Coordinating Committee of Belgian Jewish Organisations (CCOJB) and the Forum of Jewish Organisations (FJO), partnered with the Mission of Israel to the EU and NATO and the Embassy of Israel to Belgium and Luxembourg in organising an October 7th memorial ceremony in Brussels.
Moderated by EJC Director of European Affairs Ariella Woitchik, the event — attended by EU Commissioners, Belgian Ministers, Members of the Belgian and European Parliaments, diplomatic representatives, high-level EU officials, and members of the local Jewish community — was a solemn gathering to remember and honour the victims of the Hamas massacre, and a powerful statement of solidarity and defiance against terror.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola delivered a heartfelt keynote address, expressing that while the release of all living hostages brought a glimmer of hope after enduring unimaginable suffering, the trauma and despair will long persist. She reaffirmed that Europe stands firmly with the victims and bears a moral responsibility to play a constructive role in the pursuit of peace. Metsola also spoke of the alarming rise of antisemitism across Europe, stressing that it must never be allowed to infiltrate into our societies.
She recalled her visit to Israel in the aftermath of the massacre, where she met the families of victims and witnessed the horror of the attacks firsthand. Speaking with deep emotion, she said she would never forget what she saw, vowing that terror must never be allowed to prevail, and that Europe will continue to stand on the side of humanity, justice, and remembrance.
Afterward, CCOJB President Yves Oschnisky spoke about how the massacre represented an attack on Jewish communities worldwide, noting that it has heightened levels of antisemitism in Belgium, with the importation of the conflict to the streets. He emphasised the importance of remembering the horrors of what occurred and reflected on its deep impact, drawing attention to the pain endured by Israel and the troubling reactions of indifference and hatred.
For its part, FJO President Baroness Regina Sluszny-Suchowolski delivered an emotional address, drawing parallels between her own experience as a hidden child from the Nazis during the Second World War in Belgium and the horrors that so many children had to endure on October 7th. She reflected on the painful repetition of history and the world’s failure to fully learn the lessons of the Shoah. Speaking from the heart, she emphasised the suffering of the victims and stressed that Israel must not be left alone, highlighting the urgent need to foster hope for the future.
Both the Ambassador of Israel to the European Union, H.E. Avi-Nir Feldklein, and the Ambassador of Israel to Belgium and Luxembourg, Idit Rosenzweig-Abu, expressed relief at the liberation of all living Israeli hostages after two long years, while stressing the urgent necessity to completely dismantle the ideology of Hamas, ensure full compliance with President Donald Trump’s agreement, and secure the return of all remaining bodies. Both remarked that 7 October was defined by devastating loss, national trauma, and shattered dreams, and that the senseless killings and the perverse rejoicing over the suffering inflicted on so many have left a deep and lasting scar on the nation.
The audience had the profound privilege and honour of hearing the testimony of Patrick Cohen, the father of Ziv Pepe Shapira, who was murdered on 7 October at the Nova Festival. He recounted the tragic events of that day and the life of his son—a young artist full of potential, joy, and dreams—whose future was cruelly destroyed by Hamas. Speaking from the heart, he shared a deeply personal account, emphasising the importance of never forgetting what happened.
Afterward, Dr Cochav Elkayam Levy, Founder and Chair of the Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children, spoke about the deliberate targeting and exploitation of families by the terrorist organisation, shedding light on this often-overlooked aspect of the attack and exposing the extreme brutality inflicted on entire family units, identifying these acts as a new international crime.
The event concluded with a moving prayer of El Maleh Rachamim and the Kaddish, honouring the victims, followed by the Israeli national anthem.
