London Mayor Sadiq Khan visited an exhibition reflecting the tragic events at the Nova music festival during Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. During the visit, the mayor met with survivors of the attack and families of those killed.
The exhibition, which opened in London in May and extended its duration due to public interest, conveys to visitors the details of the tragedy that occurred during the festival and the painful moments experienced that day. As a result of the attack that took place on October 7, 2023, approximately 1,200 people lost their lives, with 364 of them killed at or while trying to escape from the Nova music festival area.
"It is important to remember people"
During the visit, Sadiq Khan met with festival co-founder Ofir Amir and British survivor Sean Burns. Ofir Amir, who was wounded during the attack, told the mayor that his most important wish is for festival participants to be remembered not merely as statistical figures, but as ordinary people with friends and families.
Sadiq Khan highlighted the risk of the tragedy being forgotten over time and highly valued the role such exhibitions play in preserving memory.
"As time passes, there is a risk that this tragedy will be forgotten. Therefore, remembering that day and showing respect for those who died is a moral duty for us."
Historical parallels and a message of unity
The London mayor compared the incident to a terrorist attack that occurred during Ariana Grande's concert in Manchester in 2017, which resulted in the deaths of 22 people. Sadiq Khan emphasized that despite the numerous forces in the world attempting to sow hatred and division, music and people coming together remain the most powerful values that unite society.
It should be noted that Sadiq Khan previously harshly criticized Israel's military operations in Gaza, calling them "genocide." However, the mayor demonstrated solidarity with the Jewish community amid rising cases of antisemitism in London, stating that the city remains committed to the safety and coexistence of every community.