Today, Oct. 7, 2024, marks the one-year anniversary of the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Although most of the protests and gatherings are in Manhattan, there are two vigils scheduled in Brooklyn.
The latest round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023 when Hamas militants stormed across the border into Israeli communities. Israel says the militants killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people into captivity in Gaza. During the past year, the Palestinian Health Ministry said the war has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians.
In Brooklyn, where there's a large population of both Jewish and Muslim people, hate crimes against both groups have increased, according to Brooklyn News 12. There have been 40 hate crimes against Jewish people in Brooklyn between Oct. 7, 2023 and June 2024, while there were seven attacks against Muslims during the same period, the TV station reported.
The New York City Police Department began deploying more officers and cameras to Jewish places of worship last week, coordinating with state and federal agencies.
“We are taking every necessary step to ensure the safety of everyone in this city,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said last week.
Earlier in September, a Pakistani man was arrested in Canada for plotting a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn on the one-year anniversary, according to NPR.
Earlier today, Senator Chuck Schumer, a Brooklyn native, was at his synagogue Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope to pray, according to his post on social media.
"Hamas displayed such viciousness on that horrible day to try to scare the Israeli people, the American people and freedom-loving people of the world into submission–but they failed," Schumer said. "We will never forget."
Here are two vigils scheduled in Brooklyn for Oct. 7, 2024:
3495 Nostrand Ave., 6:30pm to 7:30pm
This event will feature prayer, songs and speeches. Atir Vinnikov, a survivor of the attack at the Nova Music Festival, will be there to share his story of hope and survival.
Register here.
1901 Ocean Pkwy., 7:30pm to 9:30pm
This memorial will honor Ariel Eliyahu, who died earlier this year while serving in the Israeli Defence Forces.
