Gaza border residents overwhelmingly back Oct. 7 remembrance law: poll

A significant majority of residents living near the Gaza border support formalizing the remembrance of the October 7 massacre through legislation, according to a poll released Tuesday by the "Future for the OTEF" movement. The survey, which polled over 1,300 respondents, found that more than 90% favor enacting a law titled the "Memory of the Massacre and Commemoration of Heroism Law."

The poll also highlighted broad public backing for a permanent public participation mechanism. Seventy-one percent of respondents support establishing this mechanism as a binding legal requirement, ensuring that residents, families, and survivors are directly involved in shaping how the memory of the events is preserved. Furthermore, 79.2% believe local residents should lead or actively participate in decisions regarding the preservation or demolition of buildings damaged on October 7.

Educational and historical preservation were also key themes. Eighty-five percent of respondents prefer that commemoration efforts and educational tours in the Gaza envelope be led by or include local residents. A substantial 89.4% believe the events of October 7 should be incorporated into Israel's national curriculum in the coming years. Documenting and preserving testimonies, documents, and historical materials was deemed highly important by 77.8% of those surveyed.

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