Vigil honoring victims of Hamas terrorist attacks at Binghamton University

VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Binghamton University students held a vigil on Thursday to commemorate the lives lost as a result of the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, one of the worst days in Israel’s history.

Students chose to hold the vigil on Thursday due to a Jewish holiday falling on the day of the two-year anniversary.

The display included flowerpots representing each life lost that day, a tent set up for the NOVA festival, and tables representing the fallen IDF soldiers and hostages that were able to come home.

Vice President of the Binghamton University Zionist Organization Mackenzie Cooper says they have been planning the event for a while, and some changes were made due to developments with the war.

“When we walked in this morning, we had 48 chairs set up that we thought we were going to have to put yellow covers over for the hostages that are still left in Gaza. And now we are able to take half of those away, which is so incredible. So obviously, while we’re still remembering how awful that day was on October 7th, there’s definitely an air of hope amongst everyone else, and we’re looking at the day a bit differently,” said Cooper.

Thursday evening, a ceremony will be held at the vigil where a survivor from the NOVA Festival will be speaking to the Binghamton Community about his experience.

The ceremony will be held in the Mandela Room at the BU Student Union starting at 7 p.m.

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