Thousands gather in London to mark two years since 7 October attacks

October 5, 2025

Thousands gather in London to mark two years since 7 October attacks

Thousands of people gathered in London's Trafalgar Square on Sunday to mark the two years since Hamas's attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 - the deadliest in Israel's history.

Candles were also lit for those affected by a deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday.

The event - one of many taking place across England today - shared the same central London location as Saturday's demonstrations in support of proscribed group Palestine Action, at which nearly 500 protesters were arrested .

Addressing the crowd, Phil Rosenberg, president of Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD), said the community remained "determined to confront antisemitism wherever it appears".

Another speaker at the event on Sunday was Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvi, who said: "Today, we recall the precious lives who were mercilessly taken from our midst on 7 October."

"We remember all subsequent atrocities since that original day," he added.

Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents were taken hostage from their home in the attacks, told the crowd it was almost two years "since our lives were torn apart".

Her father, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, died in Hamas captivity. Her mother, 85-year-old Yocheved, was released in late October 2023.