The world “will never be able to fully grasp” the pain inflicted on the Jewish community by the terrorist attacks on October 7, a leading Israeli activist has said.

World-renowned influencer Hen Mazzig, who works to combat antisemitism, told guests at an event hosted by the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel (BFAMI): “The world will never be able to fully grasp what we are facing and understand the pain that we are going through.”

Mazzig, who is a senior fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute, said the depth of the pain felt among the Jewish community was because “our family was killed. Our family members were taken.

"People that we hold dear in our heart were taken away from us. That’s why it’s so painful for all of us because it’s personal, something that the world will not understand.”

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Dudu Tassa (Photo: Yoav Pichersky)

Having addressed a number of London rallies, calling for the release of hostages, Mazzig said that he felt “an obligation and a duty to speak up”.

He said that since October 7, when Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 people hostage: “Something inside me has been broken, just a feeling that I can’t be happy anymore, that I can’t celebrate things. When I’m laughing, I’m feeling guilty.”

Calling antisemitism “a world-class gaslighter”, Mazzig said: “They lie about us. They put us in such horrific pain and say that we are the ones to be blamed for it. We are seeing it on the BBC, and we are seeing it on social media every day. It is up to us to continue sharing our stories.”

The 150 guests at the Amano Hotel in London also heard from businessman and activist David (Vladimir) Bermant and Barak Ganor, director of culture at the Israeli Embassy.
Israeli rock star Dudu Tassa performed, with support from up-and-coming singer Shelly Chitiyat. Deborah Abraham provided a live art experience.

The BFAMI, which hosted the event alongside community collective the Houmous Foundation, raised £12,500 towards BFAMI’s emergency relief art projects, which support people suffering from trauma.

Plans in the long term include supporting “the rebuilding of Kibbutz Be’eri’s art museum, following the torching of this beautiful art space and community centre”, said BFAMI co-chair Pamela Crystal.