As ceremonies took place nationwide, the ongoing conflict saw new rocket attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah, met with Israeli retaliation.
On the first anniversary of the deadly Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that initiated the war in Israel, ceremonies were held across the country to commemorate the event that still plagues the nation.
The day began with a moment of silence at 6:29 a.m., marking the precise time a year prior when Hamas launched a rocket assault, allowing 3,000 terrorists to breach Gaza into Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 and the abduction of over 200 individuals.
Despite the continued daily air-raid sirens in Israel, the moment was not accompanied by sirens, as they are typically reserved for Holocaust Remembrance Day and Memorial Day.
While Israelis observed the day, their enemies launched rocket attacks on the country. Hamas fired missiles at border communities, with some landing in Tel Aviv and its suburbs, causing injuries.
Simultaneously, Hezbollah targeted the Haifa area with 135 rockets, prompting Israeli retaliation on 120 Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon.
Memorial ceremonies were held in communities that suffered the most during the attack a year ago, with one particular ceremony at the Kibbutz Reim—the site of the Nova music festival, which turned into a tragic event.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasized the need for support in the country’s battle against its enemies to ensure peace and stability in the region.
Flags were flown at half-staff, and a recording of the last song played at the festival was played during the ceremony, paying tribute to the victims.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the nation’s resilience following the massacre and faced criticism for the security lapses that led to the attack and the ongoing efforts to secure the release of all hostages.
A group of protesters, including families of hostages, staged a demonstration near Netanyahu’s residence, expressing their concerns and demands.
A protest in Tel Aviv was originally planned to draw tens of thousands of participants but was scaled back due to the threat of missile attacks from Iran and Hezbollah.
“It’s been a nightmare of a year,” said Eli Albag, whose daughter, Liri Albag, is one of five surveillance soldiers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base.
“We won’t remember the military operations. What we’ll remember forever are the captives.”
Netanyahu also met on Oct. 7 with a bipartisan delegation of United States senators led by Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
“We’re here to say we have Israel’s back, and Israel has the right to defend itself,” Blumenthal said.
“The reason people were killed on Oct. 7 was they were Jewish,” Graham said. “We’ve seen this movie before. We don’t want to see any more of these movies.”
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
