Dozens of Jewish community members and supporters gathered on the Boston Common Monday evening to honor those who died or were taken hostage last year on Oct. 7.

Attendees raised Israeli flags and wore yellow ribbon pins, which express support for the return of those held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. They gathered below a string of Israeli flags and around an array of candles, speakers, and performers.

Monday marked one year since Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 hostages were abducted, according to the Israeli government. Israel’s war against Hamas in response has killed at least 41,900 Palestinians and displaced around 1.9 million people in the Gaza Strip, according to ​​the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Spencer Markowitz was in Israel last October and moved to Boston recently. While new to the community, he said events like this help Jewish people find community. 

“This is a memorial service for those that perished that day and since then,” Markowitz said. 

One speaker at the memorial shared the story of a friend living in Israel who was injured, then later died, because of the Oct. 7 attacks. 

“He thought he might be okay, but he lost his arm,” they shared. “He was a musician. In a way, his life died before he did. Because his life would not have been the same.” 

Jewish community members and allies at the memorial wrapped their arms around each other with Israeli flags draped on their backs as speakers shared how the attacks impacted them and their loved ones. Some held their small children close, with tears in their eyes. 

“These are the people that Hamas chose to murder in their homes,” the speaker said. “They were not soldiers. They are not at war. I, along with everybody, want nothing more than a ceasefire. But we have to bring the hostages home to get a ceasefire.”

Shabnam Panahi, 38, immigrated to Massachusetts from Iran 22 years ago. A self-proclaimed Iranian American activist “against the regime of Iran,” Panahi has connected with Jewish people over the years who have also criticized the regime. 

After Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel last week, Panahi said Iranians like herself are “united” with Jewish people who want to end the regime.

“These groups have come together to inflict pain on Jewish people,” Panahi said. “That’s the same pain that we have felt in Iran.”

In the past year, Panahi has attended multiple pro-Israel rallies to denounce antisemitism and violence against Jewish people, she said. 

Standing in the back of the group, Casey Greenberg listened as performers sang to the crowd. Greenberg, a sophomore comedic arts major at Emerson, learned of the memorial through a group chat between Hillel members. 

“This doesn’t happen every day, and I’m not going to get to do this every day, so I figured I should show up,” Greenberg said. 

Monday evening’s gathering was the first event Greenberg attended recently that was related to the Oct. 7 anniversary. He doesn’t have particular plans to attend any more events this week but said he remains cautious of any protests that may happen on Emerson’s campus. 

“[I’m] just trying to get through the week,” Greenberg said. “It’s the same level of caution I have felt since the start of this school year.” 

Posters showing pictures of Israeli hostages and those who were killed by Hamas were displayed around the memorial. A few had messages like “Believe Israeli women” and “#MeToo_Unless_Ur_A_Jew” to raise awareness for the alleged sexual violence on Oct. 7.

Dina, an attendee, said she was disheartened that many organizations have not acknowledged the Israelis who were killed on Oct. 7. 

“I really am waiting for people to say, no matter where they are politically, that massacres are not good,” Dina said.