Mourners gathered at Kfar Aza and other sites attacked on 7 October 2023. Reuters said the anniversary falls 20 days before an Israeli election and during a ceasefire that has not stopped strikes in Gaza.
Israelis gathered on Wednesday at a kibbutz near the Gaza border that was overrun on 7 October 2023, Reuters reported from Kfar Aza. The agency said militants led by Hamas killed about 1,200 people that day and took 251 hostages, the deadliest day in Israel's history. Memorials were also held at homes, roadsides, other kibbutzim and the Nova music festival site, NBC News reported.
Reuters said Israel's subsequent bombardment and ground operations in Gaza have killed more than 74,000 people, including at least 1,400 killed in the past year since a US-brokered ceasefire. The ceasefire halted major fighting but has not stopped Israeli attacks or secured the disarmament of Hamas, the agency reported. NBC said about 80 percent of structures in Gaza are believed to have been damaged and that most of the more than 2 million residents have been displaced.
The anniversary comes 20 days before an Israeli election, Reuters reported. NBC said this is the first anniversary since the remaining hostages, living and dead, were returned, and that signs calling for their return have mostly come down.
The Guardian, citing Gaza's health ministry, put the Palestinian death toll at least 74,243 and said the ministry's figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. The ministry does not distinguish civilians from fighters.
No new political agreement was announced with the commemorations. Reuters said deadly strikes have continued despite the fragile ceasefire.
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- The mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin told NBC News that the grief does not get better.