PHOTOS: Budapest downtown square renamed October 7 Square

Theodor Herzl Square in front of the Dohany Street Synagogue has been renamed October 7 Square for two weeks in memory of the victims of the attack by Hamas terrorists.

The commemoration on Sunday and the renaming of the square were jointly organised by the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz), the Budapest Jewish Religious Community (BZSH) and the Budapest municipal administration.

Israeli ambassador to Hungary Yacov Hadas-Handelsman expressed in a speech gratitude for the symbolic renaming of the square and for Hungarian solidarity. He said the square’s renaming was “symbolic” as Herzl, who dreamt up the formation of the state of Israel, was born here, and the perpetrators of the October 7 terrorist attack had wanted to destroy his dream.

October 7 was for Israel what September 11 meant for the United States

Mazsihisz president Andor Grósz said October 7 was for Israel what September 11 meant for the United States, adding that both attacks were committed by fanatical Islamists.

Mayor of Budapest Gergely Karácsony said there was “no place in Budapest” for demonstrations that legitimised or relativised violence, and this is something that the government and the opposition agreed on. “We share the pain of the Israeli people,” he said. National Chief Rabbi Róbert Frőlich highlighted the suffering of the remaining hostages.

Read also:

• Wizz Air still not flying to Israel – Read more HERE
• Hungarian national victim of the October Hamas attack revealed

Here are some photos: