On October 7, 2023, Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists. Over 1,100 people were murdered, countless others injured, and hundreds of women, children and men were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. The ceremonial awarding of the Shimon Peres Prize, originally planned for October 25, 2023 at the City Hall of Berlin, could not take place in view of the terrible events.
“This year, we are unable to gather for the Shimon Peres Prize ceremony. In Israel, thousands have lost their lives or are wounded, and families and friends are still worried about their loved ones who have been abducted to Gaza. In the spirit of our father's legacy, we will not give up. We will continue to work for a better future. The brutal hatred and murder will never silence our voices for peace, coexistence, and a better world.”
Tsvia Walden, Yoni Peres, Chemi Peres
The children of Shimon Peres
The prize winners were already selected by the jury in the summer of 2023. Since October 7, their work has become more important than ever before. With a hopeful outlook for a democratic and human rights-based future, we are proud to announce this year's Shimon Peres Prize winning projects:
In the beginning of 2024, the certificates were presented to the winning projects of the Shimon Peres Prize 2023 by Minister of State Dr. Tobias Lindner and H.E. Ambassador Steffen Seibert at a parallel event at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin and at the German Ambassador's residence in Herzliya in the presence of some jury members, and the Peres family.
Dr. Tamara Or, director of the Future Forum, paid tribute to the young award winners in her speech and called upon them “what we do or don’t do now, determines what our future will look like. We must not give up – especially now."
