Oct 08,V7N- Israelis commemorated the first anniversary of the devastating Hamas attack that ignited a war, which has since led to global protests and heightened tensions in the Middle East. Ceremonies and protests began at 06:29 a.m. (0329 GMT), marking the exact moment when Hamas launched rockets into Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250 hostages to Gaza.

In Jerusalem, about 300 people, including families of hostages, gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence to observe a minute of silence as a siren sounded. Yuval Baron, whose father-in-law is among the hostages, expressed the ongoing trauma, stating, "We're still stuck in October 7th, 2023, in one unending day of terror, of fear, of anger, of despair." He emphasized the importance of remembering the hostages while mourning the dead.In Reim, where a music festival was attacked last year, President Isaac Herzog led a memorial ceremony, beginning with the last song played at the festival.

He called for unity and remembrance of the atrocities committed during the attack. Throughout the day, memorials were held in kibbutz villages and towns near the border, although a major memorial event in Tel Aviv drew a smaller crowd than expected due to security restrictions.Security was heightened across Israel, with military and police forces on alert for potential Palestinian attacks on this significant anniversary.

Air raid sirens were triggered twice in central Israel due to long-range missile fire, prompting residents to seek shelter. Movement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank was restricted, with many checkpoints closed and some Palestinians receiving notifications that they could not enter Israel.In Gaza, the Israeli military reported thwarting a planned rocket attack by Hamas. The ongoing conflict has destabilized the region, with the Israeli response to the initial Hamas assault leading to significant casualties and destruction.

The death toll in Gaza has reached nearly 42,000, according to Palestinian health authorities, with most of the population displaced.The surprise attack by Hamas was a significant security failure for Israel, leading to a profound sense of vulnerability among its citizens. Most of the casualties were civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, who were killed in their homes or during the attack on the Nova music festival.As the conflict continues, Israeli forces have shifted their focus northward to Lebanon, engaging in exchanges of fire with Hezbollah since the group launched missile attacks in support of Hamas.

This escalation has resulted in bombardments of Hezbollah strongholds and a ground offensive aimed at eliminating their fighters, leading to the displacement of over 1 million people from southern Lebanon.Despite recent Israeli military successes, including targeted assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, the situation remains precarious, with fears of a broader regional conflict, particularly following missile attacks from Iran. Israel has yet to respond to a recent barrage from Iran but has promised a strong retaliation.

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