October 7 attack was “a scar on humanity,” Israel’s president says
The President of Israel Isaac Herzog and his wife visit relatives of victims and attend the one year memorial ceremony at the Nova festival memorial to mark one the first anniversary since Hamas attacked one year ago, in Re’im, Israel, on October 7.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was among those holding commemorations this morning at the Nova festival site, where he described the October 7 attacks as a “scar on the face of the Earth” and called for countries to support Israel.
Herzog also laid a wreath and lit memorial candles in honor of those killed at the site a year ago, accompanied by their bereaved families.
“October 7, 2023, is a day that should be remembered in infamy, when thousands of cruel terrorists broke into our homes, violated our families, burned, chopped, raped, and hijacked and abducted our citizens, our brothers and sisters, and with them, people from 36 different nationalities,” Herzog said.
The atmosphere at the memorial site was somber as family members, friends of victims and survivors consoled each other.
“Blessed be those who fell, who were murdered and killed here. Young people who came to celebrate and enjoy dance and music — to live a real life of young people as any young person should be entitled to. Let us remember them forever. Let us pray, with remorse, pain, bereavement, and condolences to their families,” Hertzog said.
Families of Israeli hostages sound 2-minute siren outside Netanyahu’s residence
Protesters march towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence, to mark one year since the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, in Jerusalem, October 7.
Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have sounded a siren for two minutes outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem to urge him to bring back their loved ones, marking one year since they were kidnapped by Hamas.
Following Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage, the families have campaigned relentlessly for the Israeli government to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would secure the release of their loved ones.
On Monday, the relatives spoke about the immense grief and trauma they have experienced, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
“A year has passed since that Saturday morning when my parents woke up in panic and ran to the safe room. A year since terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz. A year of mortal fear that no one can understand,” said Shir Siegel, whose parents were kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
Siegel’s mother, Aviva Siegel, was released after two months in captivity, but her father, Keith Siegel, remains a hostage.
“A year has passed since I imagined my parents coming home and us hugging. A year has passed, but it feels like one long day,” Siegel said.
Some relatives also expressed messages of hope and resilience.
“Omeri, my life. I miss you. I feel your absence with every breath, every moment in my body,” said Niva Wenkert, whose son Omer was kidnapped at the Nova music festival last year.
“We’re not giving up, my life, I’m not giving up for a second,” she said. “We’re here, we’ll win until you’re home.”
“Time has stopped here”: Kibbutz Nir Oz holds somber October 7 memorial
A memorial ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the October 7 terror attack in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7
A memorial ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack has ended in Israel’s Kibbutz Nir Oz, just a few miles from Gaza.
The agricultural commune of 400 people was among the worst impacted by the attack, with one in four residents murdered or kidnapped.
The Bibas family — husband and wife Yarden and Shiri, their young son Ariel, and baby Kfir — were among those kidnapped on that day. They, along with more than 20 others from the kibbutz, are still being held in Gaza.
In a particularly poignant moment, the names of those murdered in the kibbutz last year were read aloud. The speakers struggled to get through the long list of names, pausing to take a moment when their emotions became too raw.
“We cannot move on when people from the kibbutz are still there, Amat Moshe, whose grandparents were residents of the kibbutz, told CNN before the event started.
"Time has stopped here.”
Last October, Moshe’s grandmother Adina watched the as Hamas fighters stormed her home and murdered her husband David before kidnapping her to Gaza. She was released as part of a ceasefire deal in November last year.
Most of Nir Oz’s residents have yet to return, living together in the town of Kiryat Gat, about an hour’s drive away. Only six have come back.
President of Israel Isaac Herzog and First Lady of Israel Michal Herzog, right and center, speak with released hostages from Kibbutz Nir Oz ahead of a ceremony to mark the first anniversary since the Hamas attacks on Israel.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was among those present at the commemoration. He also attended a memorial held at the Nova festival site earlier in the morning.
As people gathered to mark the anniversary, the Israeli military reported that several projectiles were fired from Gaza toward Israel. Throughout the morning, the sounds of outgoing artillery fire could be heard, as the military continued striking targets inside Gaza.
