Israel commemorates one year since Hamas attack amid ongoing conflict

By AJP Posted : October 8, 2024, 10:27 Updated : October 8, 2024, 10:27
 
A woman participates in a march toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus private residence commemorating one year since the deadly Hamas attack on Oct 7 2023 in Jerusalem Oct 7 2024 Reuters-Yonhap
A woman participates in a march toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in Jerusalem on Oct. 7, 2024. Reuters-Yonhap
SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Israel recently held memorials to honor those killed and abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, as fighting continues in Gaza and Lebanon. The attack resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 kidnappings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to prevent such assaults in the future, highlighting the military's ongoing efforts to enhance security in the region.

Since the attack, Israel's Gaza offensive has led to nearly 42,000 deaths, according to Hamas-run health officials. During the memorials, Israel intercepted over 100 rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon, along with additional rockets from Yemen's Houthis and Hamas in Gaza.

The October 2023 assault saw Hamas militants breaking through the border, targeting Israeli towns, military posts, and the Nova music festival. Families of victims and hostages held a memorial at the festival site, with President Isaac Herzog leading a moment of silence at the time the attack began. Smaller gatherings took place in other affected communities, while Netanyahu lit a candle for the victims at a Jerusalem memorial.

In Tel Aviv, families attended an alternative Bereaved Families Memorial Ceremony with musical performances and tributes to the victims. Globally, leaders such as President Biden condemned Hamas’s brutality, while calling for restraint in the ongoing conflict. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also urged non-military solutions, despite affirming Israel's right to defend itself.

Meanwhile, fighting escalated. Hezbollah fired over 130 rockets from Lebanon, with some reaching Haifa and Tiberius, and Hamas launched rockets at Tel Aviv. Israel's military intercepted ballistic missiles from Yemen and conducted strikes in Lebanon. The conflict has displaced 1.2 million people in Lebanon, with Hezbollah remaining defiant despite significant losses. Israel has pledged to ensure the safety of residents near the Lebanese border following a year of fighting.
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