WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Monday marks one year since the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. The militant group Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israel’s response has led to concerns of a wider war in the Middle East.
The Israeli military says it intercepted rockets overnight and launched several more. It comes as U.S. officials have urged leaders in the Middle East to stop the fighting.
At 6:29 a.m., the exact time Hamas launched the deadly surprise attack on Israel, the families of the nearly 400 people killed at the Nova music festival gathered to mourn.
Outside the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, families of hostages still in Gaza called for their release.
A two-minute siren marked the time of the attacks.
Israel’s response since Oct. 7 has displaced most of the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says the war in Gaza has killed more than 41,000. It doesn’t differentiate between civilians and fighters.
Fighting is expanding from Gaza to Israel’s north in Lebanon. Overnight, Israel launched a new round of airstrikes in Beirut targeting the Iran-backed militia group Hezbollah.
At least 1,400 Lebanese, including civilians and fighters have been killed in Israeli attacks.
“They have to be very much more careful about dealing with civilian casualties,” President Joe Biden said.
President Biden has called for Israel to stop the fighting but on Friday he said, “The Israelis have every right to respond to the vicious attacks on them.”
