Over 90% of Gaza border residents support making a law -entitled the Memory of the Massacre and Commemoration of Heroism Law- to enshrine the remembrance, heritage, and commemoration of the October 7 massacre, according to a poll released Tuesday by the “Future for the OTEF” movement.
The survey polled more than 1,300 respondents, the majority of them residents, and found broad public support for formalizing remembrance and commemoration through legislation, alongside a strong expectation that affected communities be directly involved in shaping how that memory is preserved.
Permanent public participation mechanism
In addition, 71% support establishing a permanent public participation mechanism involving residents, families, survivors, and representatives of affected communities as a binding legal requirement.
The poll also found that 79.2% of respondents believe decisions regarding the preservation, modification, or demolition of buildings damaged on October 7 should be led by local residents or made with their active participation in the decision-making process.
Meanwhile, 85.2% said they prefer that commemoration efforts and educational tours in the Gaza envelope be led by, or include, local residents. A further 89.4% believe the events of October 7 should be incorporated into Israel’s education system and national curriculum in the coming years.
Documenting and preserving testimonies, documents, and historical materials
According to the report, 77.8% of respondents place especially high importance on documenting and preserving testimonies, documents, and historical materials, compared to 51.3% who support the broader concept of passing down heritage and heroism to future generations.
The "Future for the OTEF” movement is calling for the proposed law to include a fixed core budget for a governing body to be established; mandatory transparency measures, including publication of minutes and annual public reporting; and the creation of professional subcommittees in the fields of education and heritage, documentation and testimonies, commemoration sites, and public participation. It also calls for a special majority requirement in key decisions regarding the shaping of memory, memorial sites, and the museum. In addition, it demands a structured public participation framework, including within the subcommittees' work.
“The data clearly shows: the residents of the Gaza envelope want a state commemoration law for October 7, but they are not willing for the national memory to be shaped without the communities that bore the highest cost. Our goal is not to delay the law — on the contrary," said Ohad Cohen, CEO of the “Future for the OTEF” movement.
"To achieve this, a permanent budget, transparency, professional subcommittees, public participation mechanisms, and responsible decision-making in substantive decisions are required.”