One Year Since Gaza War: Memorials and Protests Across Israel... Netanyahu Says "We Must Retaliate"

On the 7th (local time), marking one year since the outbreak of the Gaza Strip war, memorial events and protests were held across Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, "Counterattacking the enemies aligned with Iran's 'axis of evil' is an essential condition for security."

At the cabinet meeting that day, Netanyahu mourned the victims of the Gaza war, saying, "We will overthrow the evil Hamas regime, recover all hostages including survivors and the deceased, neutralize the threat from the Gaza Strip, safely return residents of the south and north to their homes, achieve these goals, and end the war."

People gathered in Tel Aviv, Israel, to commemorate one year of the Gaza war.
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

According to AP News and others, a two-minute memorial siren sounded across Israel at 6:29 a.m., the time when last year's Hamas surprise attack on Israel began.

Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog visited the southern Re'im Kibbutz to console the families of the victims. At least 370 people died in the Hamas attack at the Nova Music Festival held there one year ago.

President Herzog said, "We must realize and understand that supporting Israel is necessary to change the course of history, bring peace, and welcome a better future for this region."

Hundreds of hostage families protested in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem.

The memorial ceremony was held separately by the victims' families and the government due to criticism that the government was politically exploiting the memorial events. A memorial event centered on the victims' families was held at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv. Although about 40,000 people were initially expected to attend, the Israeli military's Home Front Command limited the number of attendees to a maximum of 2,000 due to security threats.

The government-held memorial ceremony took place in a small town near the Gaza Strip. Considering domestic criticism, it was pre-recorded and broadcast. In a video statement, Netanyahu said, "Overthrowing Hamas' rule and recovering all hostages is a sacred mission we will never abandon," adding, "As long as the enemy threatens our existence and the peace of our nation, we will continue to fight."

The Israeli Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum issued a statement urging the government to engage in ceasefire negotiations, saying, "We want to remind the Prime Minister that without the return of the hostages, there can be no recovery."

The Times of Israel reported that Hamas abducted 251 hostages, and among the 97 still held captive, at least 33 are estimated to have died.