One year has passed since the Hamas attack on October 7, and today is a solemn day of remembrance in Israel and around the world. Approximately 100 hostages captured that day are still being held, and ceasefire efforts have stalled.
Traumatized survivors and heartbroken families gathered at the Nova Music Festival. At least 364 people were killed there in a Hamas attack a year ago. Many other hostages were taken.
Flags were flying at half-staff outside Israel’s parliament. At the memorial to the victims, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lit a candle with the mayor of Jerusalem.
“We experienced a terrible massacre a year ago, but as a people we rose as lions,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said.
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Sirens blared in Netanyahu’s home as hostage families pressed him to bring their relatives back, highlighting the debate between pushing for the destruction of Hamas and reaching a deal to free the prisoners.
The family is clinging to hope.
Adi Alexander, whose son Edan was kidnapped by Hamas, said: “I hope they can be hugged with others and comfort each other and lean on each other. I will not stop fighting.”
President Biden and the first lady lit a memorial candle at the White House.
On this anniversary, the Israeli military announced that projectiles and rockets had been fired from Gaza and that an air raid siren had been sounded in Tel Aviv.
Gaza authorities say more than 40,000 Palestinians, both civilians and Hamas fighters, were killed last year.