Israelis mark the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack with commemorations

Oct. 5 (UPI) — Thousands of Israelis are marking the one-year anniversary of the militant group Hamas’ deadly attack near the Gaza border last year that killed around 1,200 people and took over 200 hostage.

People gathered on Saturday around memorials in Re’im in southern Israel, near where the attack took place at the Nova open-air music festival on October 7.

With temperatures topping 70 degrees and dust constantly swirling, people on Saturday posed photos of relatives killed or captured in the attack in Re’im. Friends and family hugged each other while continuing to demand the return of all remaining hostages.

On Saturday, about 40,000 anti-Israel protesters marched through central London, while thousands also gathered in Paris, Rome, Manila and Cape Town.

In Berlin, about 1,000 demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags chanted “One year of genocide.” mission Israel denies this and claims it is defending itself. The demonstrators also criticized police violence against pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

The Israeli armed forces are on high alert ahead of the anniversary, said military spokesman Daniel Hagari.

“We are prepared with increased troops and assume that there will be attempted terrorist attacks against the home front by this date,” Hagari said.

The Hamas attack and kidnappings led to years of war between Israel and the militant group in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, about 41,000 people have been killed in the Palestinian enclave since the conflict began days after the attack.

Officials believe Hamas still holds around 95 people hostage in Gaza. This figure includes the bodies of at least 33 people whose deaths have already been confirmed by the Israeli Defense Forces.

Public calls to free the remaining hostages have increased over the past year, putting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to find a solution.

Meanwhile, fighting continues in Gaza and southern Lebanon against Hezbollah as the Israelis prepare to attack Iran after their second rocket fire a few days ago.

US President Joe Biden has said he rejects a possible Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and called on Israel to respond more moderately after the Iranian missile attack.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that his country is fighting on seven fronts: Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza; Hezbollah in Lebanon; the Houthis in Yemen; Iran-backed militias in Iraq and also Syria; Iranian efforts to arm Palestinian militants in the West Bank; and against Iran, which first attacked Israel in April and again on Tuesday evening.

Last week, Iran fired over 200 ballistic missiles at Israel and is “behind this seven-front war against Israel,” Netanyahu said.