Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivers a message one year after the Hamas attack on October 7th

As Israel approaches October 7, a year after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel, President Isaac Herzog on Saturday sent a message to Jewish communities around the world.

Over 1,200 people were murdered in the attack and another 250 were kidnapped to Gaza. Over 100 hostages remain captive, 48 of whom were killed, according to the IDF.

Herzog emphasized the resilience of the Israeli people and stressed the importance of standing united and strong against anti-Semitism around the world.

“Dear sisters and brothers from all over the world – Shalom to all of you from the President’s Residence in Jerusalem,” Herzog began his speech. “Today marks a full year since the earth shook, since the worst human brutality and hatred destroyed our sense of security and changed our world forever.

“A year since our women, our children, our old people were hunted, burned, beheaded, raped and shot in their beds. A year ago, the gathering of our wonderful young people became a scene of carnage, torture and death. A year since hundreds of our people, dead and alive, were brutally dragged into captivity.

A destroyed house in Kibbutz Be’eri after the October 7 attack. (Source: ORI SELA)

“And we must be honest: here and now, when the passage of time should provide comfort and a sense of closure, the earth is still shaking. Our wounds still cannot fully heal because they are ongoing. Because hostages are still being tortured, executed and dying in captivity. Because in these very moments they and their families are still living with the loss and horror of October 7th. Tens of thousands of families are still unable to return home. In many ways, we are all still experiencing the aftermath of October 7th.”

Herzog emphasized the lasting impact of the terrorist attacks on Israeli society, saying: “They are everywhere in our country.”

“It is also due to the anti-Semitism that emerged all over the world after the war with Hamas.”

The threats from Iran

The Israeli president also cited the ongoing threat from Iran, which launched a second airstrike on the Jewish state on Tuesday, and Iran-backed proxies in the region.

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“It lies in the ongoing threat to the Jewish state from Iran and its terror proxies, blinded by hatred and bent on the destruction of our only Jewish nation-state,” Herzog said. “It lies in the palpable fear, uncertainty and fear of the future. All of this is still with us.”

“This time, one year later, is an invitation to come close to the pain and grief, to look at it with open eyes and open hearts, and to remember what we lost – which also reminds us of who we are “We are one people with the strength to continually defend ourselves against hatred,” he continued. “To get back on your feet from the ashes of tragedy. To fight and survive, to heal and rebuild. And indeed, with so much heartache and devastation that has plagued Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze in my nation and Jews around the world and other friends, this year has forced us to return to the core truths of our people.”

Positive for the future

Despite the difficult year outlined by Herzog, the president expressed optimism for the future, emphasizing that the hardships suffered by the Israeli people “have forced us to reconnect with each other and to once again embark on the path of self-reflection, of collective responsibility, etc. social justice, which are the spiritual heritage of our people.

“And we have really been there for each other this year and have expressed our love and solidarity beautifully. We have not given up our deep longing and longing for “peace with our neighbors.” And we hold to that intent even as we insist that as Jews we deserve to feel safe and secure regardless of where on earth we live.”

“So, my friends, we will come out of this difficult time, we will overcome hate and we will rebuild. With a vital spirit that has defined us, we will come together to recover and rebuild ourselves again and again,” assured Herzog. “Inspired by the courage of bravery and the beauty of all we have lost, we will not stop believing that a better world is possible.”

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