Israel is observing the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of over a thousand Israelis.
The day was marked by solemn memorials honoring 1,139 victims and nearly 100 individuals still held captive in Gaza.
President Isaac Herzog began the commemoration with a moment of silence at 6:29 AM (03:29 GMT), the precise time when the attack commenced last year, at Kibbutz Reim. This location was the site of the Nova music festival, where 364 people lost their lives to Hamas-led fighters.
During the moment of silence, the same trance music that played at the festival echoed through the crowd, intensifying the emotional atmosphere as family members of the victims gathered to remember their loved ones.
“This is the time they danced and fled,” expressed Sigal Bar-On, whose niece and her fiancé were set to marry just months after the attack. Herzog described the attack on the festival as “a scar on humanity” and urged the international community to support Israel in its struggle against its adversaries.
Herzog emphasized the importance of global backing, stating, “The world has to realize that to change the course of history and bring peace, it must support Israel in its battle against its enemies.” Various events and ceremonies are set to unfold throughout Israel and in cities worldwide to honor the victims of the assault.
Simultaneously, protests erupted outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in West Jerusalem, with demonstrators carrying flags and portraits of the captives. They demanded the return of those still held in Gaza.
“We are here to remind the government that we haven’t forgotten them,” declared Shiri Albag, whose daughter is among the captives. “We won’t let you rest until all of them are back, every last one of them.”
In the year following the attack, family members of the captives organized frequent demonstrations, expressing their frustrations over the government’s perceived inaction in securing their return. Some protesters have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the conflict for political gain.
Amid these protests, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced the death of Idan Shtivi, who was taken from the Nova festival, with reports indicating his “body is still held captive by Hamas.”
Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Amman due to a ban on the network in Israel, highlighted growing anger among the public over the government’s failure to prioritize the captives’ return.
“Anger will continue to rise,” she noted calling for a ceasefire deal in Gaza and a renewed focus on bringing the captives back.
The anniversary arrives as Israeli forces persist in their military actions in Gaza and recently initiated a ground offensive in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, a Hamas ally. Concerns of a wider regional conflict have escalated, especially following recent missile attacks from Iran.
The human toll in Gaza is staggering, with nearly 42,000 Palestinians reported killed and over 97,000 injured during the ongoing conflict.
Amid the devastation, Hamas and its allies have vowed to continue their fight, labeling the October 7 attack as “glorious,” while Hezbollah has referred to Israel as a “cancerous” entity that must be “eliminated.”
On the same day, the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, claimed responsibility for a rocket barrage on Tel Aviv, marking the first significant assault on a major Israeli city since August.
The attack originated from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in at least two injuries, according to Israeli military statements.
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