Israel marks first anniversary of October 7 Hamas attack as Middle East violence escalates

Israelis held sombre ceremonies on Monday to mark a year since the deadliest attack in the country’s history, a Hamas-led raid that shattered its sense of security and ignited wars on two fronts with no end in sight.

Hamas marked the anniversary of its October 7, 2023, attack by firing a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv, underscoring its resilience after a year of war and devastation in Gaza. Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which began firing rockets at Israel on October 8 in support of its ally Hamas, vowed to keep up the barrages despite its recent losses.

The surprise cross-border attack one year ago – which caught Israelis unprepared on a major Jewish holiday – shook their faith in their leaders and their military, and its aftershocks are still rippling across the region. Around 100 hostages captured that day have not been returned, a third of whom are believed to be dead, and ceasefire efforts have ground to a halt.

The war in Gaza rages on and Israel is fighting a new war against Hezbollah. There is also an escalating conflict with Iran – which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah – that threatens to drag the region into an even more dangerous conflagration.

No formal commemorative event is planned in Gaza, where fighting is still under way, huge areas have been completely destroyed and most of the population have been driven from their homes.

In Lebanon, meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed at least 10 firefighters, the latest in a series of strikes that have killed dozens of first responders, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It said they were in a municipality building in the southern town of Baraachit that was hit as they prepared for a mission.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.