NEW DELHI: Israel on Tuesday shared a video commemorating the October 7 attack by Hamas, which claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people and saw over 100 individuals abducted by the militant group.
In a post on X sharing a video, Israel said, “One year ago, Iran-backed terrorists launched a war to wipe Israel off the map. They slaughtered more than a thousand innocents and took 251 hostage.Every day since, Israel has been working to bring all the hostages home while protecting its citizens and fighting a multi-front war for its very survival.”
What happened on October 7, 2023
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale, surprise assault on Israel, marking one of the deadliest escalations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years. The attack coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and significantly intensified hostilities in the region, prompting a swift and aggressive response from the Israeli military.
The assault began early in the morning when Hamas, which controls Gaza, fired thousands of rockets into Israeli territory. Cities including Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, and Jerusalem were targeted, triggering sirens and causing civilians to seek shelter.
However, the rocket attacks were part of a broader, coordinated operation. Hamas militants breached the heavily fortified Gaza-Israel border, using bulldozers to break through barriers, motorcycles for rapid movement, and paragliders to bypass security checkpoints. The militants entered Israeli communities and military bases near the border, leading to numerous casualties.
The attack resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis, both civilians and military personnel. In a shocking development, Hamas fighters took dozens of hostages, including women, children, and soldiers, transporting them back to Gaza. Videos circulated on social media showed hostages being paraded through Gaza’s streets, heightening tensions. The abductions added a layer of complexity to Israel’s military response as the safety of the hostages became a critical concern.
In a forceful response Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched extensive airstrikes targeting Hamas positions, command centers, and weapons storage facilities in Gaza. The Israeli government declared a state of war and mobilised hundreds of thousands of reservists.
The IDF sought to regain control of the border areas and eliminate any Hamas militants still operating inside Israeli territory. In the ensuing hours, precision airstrikes aimed to disable Hamas’s military capabilities, though these operations also caused significant destruction in Gaza, leading to civilian casualties.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then addressed the nation and declared that Israel is at war and promised a decisive, prolonged response.
He vowed that Hamas would “pay a heavy price” for the attack, calling it a “day of infamy” for Israel.
Supernova music festival, killing hundreds and abducting dozens
What began as a night of celebration at Israel’s Supernova music festival turned into horror when Hamas militants launched a deadly ambush, firing indiscriminately and abducting dozens of attendees. Organised by Osher and Michael Waknin, the event was intended to promote friendship, love, and freedom but became the site of the deadliest attack in Israel’s 75-year history.
The festival, which attracted around 3,500 electronic music enthusiasts from Israel and abroad, featured multiple stages, international DJs, and camping facilities. As dawn broke on October 7, the music abruptly stopped when rockets fired by Hamas targeted the venue, signalling the start of the tragic events.
Ephraim Mordechayev, a 23-year-old soldier enjoying the festivities, recounted his experience. Initially, he and his friends, used to the occasional rocket launches from the Gaza Strip, did not comprehend the severity of the situation. However, as chaos spread, they realised that armed militants had infiltrated the event, arriving on foot, motorcycles, and even by air, firing automatic weapons at civilians.
“There is someone that is 20, 10 metres from you with guns and trying to kill you,” Mordechayev told AFP.