Israel on Monday marked the first anniversary of the Hamas-led offensive that sparked a war that has sparked protests around the world and threatened to escalate the conflict in the Middle East.
Celebrations and protests in Jerusalem and southern Israel began around 06:29 am local time, the hour when Hamas-led militants fired rockets into Israel at the start of the Oct. 7 attack.
They killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250, at least 70 of whom are dead, according to Israeli media. Among the dead were several Canadian citizens.
Outside the house of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, around 300 people, led by the families of the hostages, holding up pictures of their loved ones, observed a minute’s silence for the dead when a siren sounded.
“We are still stuck on October 7, 2023, in one endless day of fear, terror, anger, despair,” said Yuval Baron, father-in-law of Keith Siegel who was kidnapped in Gaza.
“We wanted to start this day together to remind ourselves, our prime minister, the Israeli community that even though it is a day of sorrow there is still a sacred work to bring back the captives,” said Baron.
In Gaza, 101 hostages remain as Israeli forces continue their mission to end Hamas’ rule in the enclave and dismantle its military power. The Israeli government has said it believes about one-third of those abducted are still alive.
Kibbutz Be’eri experienced the worst massacre of Hamas on October 7. A year later, some members of the community said that Israel’s deadly response to Gaza was the only way, while a small group – including the son of the Canadian victim Vivian Silver – said there. it must be the way to peace.
The president of Israel joined the mourners at the concert venue
The surprise attack by Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by several Western governments including Canada, was one of the worst security failures in a country that prides itself on a strong and sophisticated military. These attacks destroyed many citizens’ sense of security and damaged their faith in their leaders.
Vigils were also held outside Israel and protests are expected against its offensive in the Gaza Strip that has devastated the coastal enclave, killing more than 41,900, according to Palestinian health authorities, and displacing most of its 2.3 million people.
In Re’im, the site of the Nova music festival where more than 360 people were killed and dozens kidnapped, President Isaac Herzog presided over a memorial service that began with the last song played at the party last year.
“We will always remember who kidnapped, killed, raped, butchered. At the same time, we also saw extraordinary resilience. We have amazing people and on this day we strengthen and appeal for unity,” said Herzog.
There would be celebrations in the kibbutz villages and towns near the border throughout the day.
Pope Francis condemned on Monday what he called the “shameful inability” of the international community to end the conflict in the Middle East.
In an open letter he wrote to Catholics in this region, he said: “In the past year, hatred did not explode, but violence did.
“It seems that few people care about what is most needed and most desired: dialogue and peace,” he wrote. “Violence does not bring peace. History proves this, but years and years of chaos seem to have taught us nothing.”
Front burner32:32‘Time stands still on October 7’
Hamas, Hezbollah fire rockets
Troops were on high alert across the country on Monday, military and police said, in anticipation of a possible Palestinian attack planned for the October 7, 2023, anniversary of the worst bloodshed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in years.
On Monday, the armed wing of Hamas attacked Israel’s Tel Aviv with a missile, the terrorist group said in a statement, as the Israeli army said sirens sounded in central Israel.
In recent weeks, the war has been concentrated in northern Lebanon where Israeli forces have been exchanging fire with Hezbollah since the Iranian-backed group launched a barrage of missiles in support of Hamas on October 8.
Hezbollah rockets hit Israel’s third largest city Haifa early Monday morning. Hezbollah said it targeted a military base south of Haifa with Fadi 1 missiles and then attacked Tiberias, 65 kilometers away.
What began as a moderate daily exchange has escalated into bombings of Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut and ground attacks on border towns aimed at eliminating its fighters there and allowing tens of thousands of Israelis to flee their homes in the north of the country to return.
The CBC’s Margaret Evans went to Tyre, Lebanon — a region largely controlled by Hezbollah — to see the damage from recent Israeli airstrikes and hear about people refusing to leave the region despite the danger.
Israel’s offensive, which has killed more than 1,000 people in the past two weeks, has sparked a mass flight from southern Lebanon, where more than a million people have been displaced.
In southern Lebanon, 10 firefighters were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a municipal building in the city of Bint Jbeil, according to the country’s health ministry. And an Israeli soldier was killed in a border battle, the military said.
Meanwhile, movement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank was disrupted again as many checkpoints were closed, residents said, and some Palestinians with entry permits received notifications on their cellphones saying they would not be allowed to enter Israel on Monday.
A 12-year-old Palestinian boy died during a clash between youths and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank on Monday, the Ministry of Health in Palestine said.
The Israeli military said it was looking into the report.