October 7, 2024: Israel and the world mark one year since massacre

One year ago today, Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, massacring thousands of Israelis and foreign nationals and taking hundreds more hostage, launching Israel into an unprecedented year of threats, attacks, assassinations, protests, and war.

Some 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led October 7 massacre. Over 250 people were kidnapped into the Gaza Strip, with 101 of them still being detained in captivity.

To honor the memory of the fallen and those taken hostage, the Jerusalem Post has created a timeline of the harrowing events of October 7 in hopes of memorializing and eternalizing the sacrifice of those Israelis murdered by terrorists in their homes, as well as the bravery of hostages who remain in the Gaza Strip, 12 months on.

President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog Monday morning on the “solemn occasion” of the one-year anniversary of the horrific Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the White House said in a statement on Monday afternoon. 
 

President Joe Biden lit a yahrzeit candle at the White House on Monday morning, commemorating the first anniversary of the attacks of October 7, 2023.

Thousands gathered on Monday morning at the Nova music festival site to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Hamas October 7 attack. Journalists from all over the world gathered at the Nova Music Festival memorial located in Re’im in southern Israel, as well as family members of the victims, who came to pay their respects to their loved ones. Many Nova survivors shared their stories of survival with the press and foreign media outlets, while others suffered in silence and decided to stay by their loved one’s memorial for most of the ceremony.

The official state ceremony was coordinated by Transportation Minister Miri Regev. Regev announced in August that the event would be filmed in advance and broadcast on October 7, and would not include a live ceremony. The key speakers at the ceremony are President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israelis gathered across the country Monday night to watch the civilian October 7 memorial ceremony, which organizers say was broadcast at over 300 community viewings around the country. 

The roads to Gaza in the first hours of the morning are free of traffic. This time of night, when it is still dark and even the first light of dawn has not arrived, brings a rare quiet over the country. At the entrance to Ashkelon, there is a gas station with lights on inside. The light is inviting, the only sign of warmth in the darkness. On the morning of October 7, 2024, I stopped, grabbed a coffee, and headed south toward the border of Gaza.

Israelis gathered across the country on October 7, marking one year since the Hamas massacre that left hundreds dead and one year of captivity for 97 of the 101 hostages still held by Hamas.