Israel marks the anniversary of the Hamas attack on the country in memory of the victims.

On Monday, October 7, Israel commemorates the victims of a large-scale attack by the Hamas group (recognized as terrorist in the United States and the European Union) on the country a year ago. Ceremonies and protests in Jerusalem and southern Israel began at 06:29 when Hamas militants launched rockets at Israel at the start of the attack last year on October 7.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog held a national moment of silence at the time.

Relatives of Israelis killed in a Hamas attack a year ago attend a ceremony at the Nova Memorial in southern Israel on the first anniversary of the attack, October 7, 2024.

In total, Hamas attacks last year killed about 1,200 people, and the militants took nearly 250 more hostages. Most of the dead were civilians.

Israeli security forces are on high alert throughout the country on Monday, October 7, anticipating possible attacks on the anniversary of the tragedy.

Outside Israel, demonstrations are expected around the world against its military actions in the Gaza Strip, where fighting has devastated much of the coastal enclave.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, more than a hundred of whom are still in captivity. Israel responded by launching a military operation against the militants. The conflict soon expanded to Lebanon – the IDF also began to destroy Hezbollah militants (a group designated as terrorist in the United States) who promised to fight against Israel because of its military operation in the Gaza Strip.