KIRKLAND, Wash. — The Iranian community of the Greater Seattle area hosted a candlelight vigil in Kirkland Saturday in solidarity with Israel.
Dozens from the Jewish and Iranian communities came together to honor those who lost their lives during the Hamas terror attack and highlight those kidnapped and still missing.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, Hamas militants, which have ruled Gaza since 2007, launched a surprise attack on Israel and abducted an estimated 150 people. In that and subsequent smaller attacks, more than 1,300 people have died in Israel.
According to the United Nations, around 423,000 Palestinians had to flee their homes to avoid retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. Furthermore, authorities on both sides say strikes in Gaza have killed more than 1,530 people in Gaza and injured thousands more. More than 60% of those killed have been women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
“I was so moved by that. The only light that I saw in this awful darkness we've had for more than a week, a week, and a day,” said a woman who moved to Washington from Israel and asked that her name not be used.
She got the tragic news yesterday that her friend who was on the kidnap list in Israel didn’t make it. Others at the vigil pray to never get that call with children currently in Israel
“Not sleeping much, 24/7 on social media, watching the news, talking to them, talking to family. It's a nightmare,” said Michael Shalev.
These personal stories are just some reasons why Israel and Iranian flags were together in Kirkland.
“What happened in Israel was so devastating. What Hamas is doing is exactly what we witnessed for 44 years over the Iranian regime. We want to show everyone that we want change in the whole world by getting rid of Hamas and other organizations that are related to the Islamic regime,” said Homeira Bakhtiaria, organizer of the vigil.
“Israel the past week has been incomprehensible. Unforgivable. What the Iranians are going through under their regime this is their daily life,” Shalev said.
Two different communities united for one goal we all have.
“We want to live peacefully, raise children, and live life and we're facing forces of evil,” Shalev said.