The march, signified by the sound of the shofar, a traditional ram’s horn instrument, made its way through the streets of Oświęcim, southern Poland, towards the former Birkenau camp.
This year’s march holds particular significance as it commemorates the 80th anniversary of the extermination of Hungarian Jews, the largest group of deportees to Auschwitz. Between late April and August 1944, the Auschwitz Museum reported the deportation of over 430,000 people, including children, from Hungary to Auschwitz, where more than 75% perished.
Notably, around 50 Holocaust survivors, including 20 from Hungary, participated in the march, alongside a group of 500 Hungarian youths who embarked on the “Train of the Living” from Budapest's Keleti train station.
Individuals affected by last October’s Hamas attack, including former terrorist hostages, were also present. Israeli Education Minister Yaaw Kish was also present, along with representatives from the Polish government.
The march culminated in a main ceremony at the Auschwitz II-Birkenau site, where torches symbolizing the victims, survivors, and Righteous among the Nations were lit.
Pro-Palestinian groups conducted a peaceful picket along the march route to protest the alleged genocide in Gaza, attributed to the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
