Israel paused on Thursday to observe a solemn national day of remembrance. The ceremonies honored the victims of the devastating October 7, 2023, attack led by Hamas on southern Israel, as well as those who lost their lives in the subsequent conflict. This commemoration comes barely a week after a cease-fire in Gaza was announced.
The main state ceremony took place at Mount Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery in Jerusalem, marking two years since the 2023 attack according to the Jewish calendar. Hundreds of individuals, many in military uniform, gathered to pay their respects.
President Isaac Herzog, speaking at the event, acknowledged the heavy toll of two years of war. “Even if this isn’t the end,” he said, his voice reflecting collective grief, “we have hope we are nearing it, with throats choked with tears and grief, intertwined with moments of relief.”
Following the recent cease-fire, Hamas has released the remaining 20 living hostages held in Gaza. In a reciprocal move, Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from its facilities, including 250 individuals convicted of terrorism offenses or violent acts against Israelis, alongside approximately 1,700 others detained in Gaza during the conflict without formal charges.
On Thursday, Israeli authorities announced the identification of two more bodies returned by Hamas on Wednesday. These individuals were reportedly killed in the October 2023 attack and subsequently taken into Gaza. The truce agreement included a provision for the immediate handover of all remaining bodies in Gaza, although both parties recognized that some might be challenging to locate and recover due to the extensive destruction throughout the enclave.
To date, the Palestinian militant group has returned at least nine identified bodies to Israel. Conversely, the bodies of 19 more Israelis are believed to still be in Gaza, according to a spokesperson from the prime minister’s office.
The International Red Cross confirmed that Israel has returned at least 90 bodies of Palestinians to Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has pulled back some of its forces to a pre-agreed line within Gaza, and some residents of Gaza have started to return, albeit often to the ruins of their former homes.
During the Jerusalem ceremony, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to achieving all its war objectives. He had previously stated these goals include disarming Hamas, a long-standing red line for the group and a contentious point in ongoing peace negotiations.
Netanyahu further emphasized that Israel had delivered “hammer blows” to its adversaries, asserting a strong warning: “anyone who raises their hand against us will pay a heavy price for their aggression.”
The October 7th attack tragically claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people, including Israeli civilians and security personnel, with around 250 taken hostage. The ensuing war in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 67,000 Palestinians, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Additionally, Israel’s National Security Council reports that over 460 Israelis have been killed since the war began.