Friends of Zion says October 7 broadcast reached 250 million in 176 countries

A 24-hour broadcast from Jerusalem marking the October 7 massacre reached more than 250 million people in 176 countries, Friends of Zion said as its second annual Ambassador Summit drew to a close on Tuesday.

The summit, held in cooperation with Israel’s Foreign Ministry, brought more than 1,000 Christian leaders, community representatives and influencers to Israel for a week of meetings with Israeli officials, visits to communities attacked on October 7 and encounters with former hostages and bereaved families.

FOZ said its social media content generated more than 90 million views during the week. The organization also reported 1.3 million broadcast views in Syria and 98,000 in Saudi Arabia.

In Brazil, the broadcast reached more than 8.5 million people, according to FOZ, which said Senator Flávio Bolsonaro had encouraged the public to watch. Bolsonaro, a presidential candidate, has pledged to move Brazil’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem if elected.

The audience figures were released alongside details of the summit’s memorial events in Jerusalem and southern Israel.

Former hostages return to Nova

At the Nova music festival memorial site near Kibbutz Re’im, close to the Gaza border, delegates met former hostages Noa Argamani, Romi Gonen and Elkana Bohbot, as well as massacre survivors and relatives of those murdered.

For Argamani, the gathering marked her first return to the site since she was abducted during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. She was rescued by Israeli forces from Gaza in June 2024.

Organizers said Argamani chose to attend to meet the international delegation and acknowledge its support for Israelis affected by the attacks.

Gonen, making her second visit to the site since her release, spoke about her captivity and the experience of returning to the place where she was abducted. Bohbot also shared his account of captivity and his return to his family, according to FOZ.

The organization presented its “Here Am I” Award to the three former hostages and to Hila Abir, whose brother Lotan was murdered at the festival.

Delegates also heard from dozens of Nova survivors and soldiers who were at the site on October 7. Organizers said the meetings were intended to give participants firsthand accounts to share with their communities abroad.

Jerusalem memorial honors victims and survivors

More than 2,000 people attended the summit’s international October 7 memorial at Jerusalem’s Southern Wall, according to organizers. The gathering included ambassadors, community leaders, media representatives, bereaved families, former hostages and wounded survivors.

FOZ founder Mike Evans led the event in partnership with Sylvan Adams, president of the World Jewish Congress’s Israel region.

During the ceremony, Evans presented the “Here Am I” Award to Yaniv Hayun for his role in helping subdue an attacker aboard a flydubai aircraft and thwart an attempted hijacking.

Participants heard testimony from former hostages, relatives of those killed and wounded Israelis about the attacks and their aftermath.

The week’s program included meetings with President Isaac Herzog, government officials, diplomats and business leaders, alongside visits to communities near Gaza.

Delegates also toured Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem; the Old City and Church of the Holy Sepulchre; the City of David; and the Friends of Zion Museum. Other stops included Masada, the Dead Sea, ancient Shiloh and sites in the Galilee.

FOZ said the summit aimed to strengthen ties between Israel and Christian communities worldwide and encourage participants to share survivors’ testimony through their congregations, community networks and social media audiences.