Hundreds of ambassadors, senior diplomats, and guests attended an event at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, marking three years since the October 7 massacre, organized by Israel’s mission to the UN.
The event centered on the story of Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud, who arrived together at the Nova music festival on October 7 and sought shelter in a roadside bomb shelter near Re’im that became the scene of a massacre. Cohen was abducted to Gaza and held captive by Hamas for 505 days, while Abud survived the massacre and campaigned for his release throughout his captivity. Only after returning from captivity did Cohen learn that Abud had survived.
During the event, American television host Dr. Phil spoke with Cohen and Abud about their story, Cohen’s time in captivity, and their efforts to cope and recover afterward.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, and US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, also addressed the gathering. IDF reservist Staff Sgt. Uriya Berlin recounted her experiences as a surveillance soldier at the Re’im base on October 7, while singer Idan Raichel performed several of his songs.
“Three years later, we stand at the heart of the UN to say one simple thing: October 7 can never be erased, rewritten or forgotten. The pain remains with us, but it did not break us,” Danon said.
'October 7 will not happen again, certainly not on this president’s watch'
“Eliya and Ziv are living testimony to the resilience of the people of Israel: Even from the inferno, we rise, recover and choose life,” he added.
Waltz said that “October 7 will not happen again, certainly not on this president’s watch.”
He further said that the October 7 attack “backfired on Iran and on the terrorist organizations operating under its sponsorship,” adding that “America will always stand with the Jewish people.”
Hundreds of people attended the event, including ambassadors and senior diplomats from the United States, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Tanzania, and other countries.