On the anniversary of the Hamas attack, Israel holds nationwide events to remember the victims and reaffirm its commitment to security.
On Monday, ceremonies took place throughout Israel to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on October 7. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the assault had awakened Israel’s “inner strength.” However, families of those who lost their lives continue to hold the state responsible for failing to prevent it.
On the anniversary of a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel, which took place one year ago this Monday, dozens of towns and villages in southern Israel were occupied. Approximately 1,100 people lost their lives during the assault, while around 250 hostages were taken to Gaza. In response to these events, Israel declared war on Hamas. Reports indicate that nearly 42,000 Palestinians have died so far as a result of the ongoing conflict along with at least 726 Israeli soldiers.
In challenging times, Israel has repeatedly shown remarkable resilience, Netanyahu stated during a pre-recorded ceremony broadcast on Monday. “We united to defend our country and homeland,” he emphasized, affirming that Israel will persist in its fight as long as any enemy poses a threat to its existence and peace.
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At an informal ceremony held by families who lost loved ones in the attack, emotions ran high with palpable anger. Yonatan Shamriz, whose brother died at the hands of an Israeli soldier during a mismanaged hostage rescue mission last December, spoke at the event in Tel Aviv. He described October 7 as “a day without military or government support—a day where we citizens stood alone.”
Shamriz is not the first Israeli to criticize the government for inadequate preparation against the attack. Shortly after it occurred, Egyptian intelligence officials reported that they had repeatedly cautioned their Israeli counterparts about Hamas’s plans for a significant operation; however, these warnings were allegedly disregarded in West Jerusalem. Additionally, according to an Israeli broadcast by Kan in June, early last October saw the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) intelligence directorate draft a report indicating that Palestinian militants were preparing for a major invasion of Israel.
Last year, American journalist Seymour Hersh referred to an Israeli source who claimed that Netanyahu was so dismissive of a potential attack from Gaza that he reassigned two-thirds of the IDF troops usually positioned at Israel’s border with the enclave to assist with security for an Orthodox Jewish festival in the West Bank.
“We find ourselves not as a united multitude of the people of Israel, but standing here expecting yet another siren,” Shamriz commented on the ongoing rocket attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah into Israel. “Rather than having a state inquiry commission to examine this massive failure, we are left asking questions without receiving any answers.”
Over the past year, at rallies and vigils, families of individuals captured by Hamas have persistently urged Netanyahu to negotiate with the militants for their release. Approximately 100 hostages still remain in captivity. During a protest in Jerusalem on Monday, Yael Or—whose cousin’s body is still held in Gaza—criticized Netanyahu for prioritizing “endless war” over securing the hostages’ freedom.
“Netanyahu is intent on maintaining power indefinitely,” she remarked. “In pursuit of this, he has ensnared Israel in an endless cycle of conflict. Consequently, our hostages have been forsaken in Hamas’ subterranean tunnels beneath Gaza. Netanyahu’s actions amount to crimes against his own citizens.”
