Israel observes October 7 anniversary with national memorial day

On Monday, Israel marked a national memorial day to honor the victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack and the soldiers who perished in the Gaza conflict, according to Israeli media. Two official ceremonies took place at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, with President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other high-ranking officials in attendance, reported The Jerusalem Post.

Additional memorial events, rallies, and ceremonies were scheduled throughout the day across the nation, with schools, municipalities, and communities organizing their own tributes. State institutions, police stations, prisons, and military bases lowered their flags to half-mast in remembrance. The memorial fell on October 5 this year due to the Hebrew calendar, which follows a lunisolar system.

The Hamas assault on October 7 resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, with an additional 251 people abducted and taken to Gaza. This single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust had profound effects on both Israeli society and Palestinians in Gaza, where Hamas had maintained power since the territory's last election in 2006.

Israel launched a military campaign against Hamas in Gaza following the attacks. The European Union, along with the United States, Germany, and other nations, categorize Hamas as a terrorist organization. The Israeli military's war on Gaza led to the deaths of more than 73,650 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians, as per Gaza's Health Ministry.