HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (WGN) — On the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, events were held across Chicagoland in remembrance of a dark day that kicked off an extended period of unrest in the Middle East, including one in Highland Park.
On this day 365 days ago, Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and took at least another 250 hostage.
It’s believed around 100 are still being held captive, but it’s estimated a third of them have likely been killed.
On Sunday, many gathered in Highland Park for a memorial service in Port Clinton Square. Organized by Shamash — a group of North Shore residents who’ve organized vigils and marches over the past 12 months calling for the release of hostages — said they planned to unveil a temporary memorial in the area nearby.
This followed a Pro-Palestinian march just 24 hours earlier in downtown Chicago, where thousands gathered in the Gold Coast neighborhood to demand an end to the violence and US aid to Israel.
The Pro-Palestinian march in Chicago was mirrored by several other major demonstrations around the world, which included a demonstration in London that reportedly drew more than 40,000 people.