Thousands of Israelis are mourning today to mark the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
It has been three years since thousands of Hamas-led militants poured into southern Israel after a surprise barrage of rockets.
They stormed army bases, farming communities and an outdoor music festival, murdering 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, including women, children and older adults. They abducted 251 others.
Shortly after 6.29 am, the exact time the attack began, the music – the same track that festival revellers were listening to at the time – stopped for a moment of silence. Another moment of silence and memorial events will take place during the day.
Israeli hostage May Hayat told about how October 7 unfolded: ‘We suddenly saw people running, but the music was still playing. We didn’t understand what was happening until we saw the rockets in the sky.’
This anniversary of October 7 is more tense than years prior, after it was revealed earlier this year that PM Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly received a warning before the deadly attacks from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, but did not act.
Netanyahu declared the report an ‘absolute lie’, but the Prime Minister is already facing more criticism for his handling of the conflict from within the country ahead of key elections later this month.
Elsewhere, hundreds of pro-Palestine protests are planned across the world today against the targeted murder of an estimated 74,000 Palestinians – most of them civilians, women and children.
Last year, Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera’s Gaza Bureau Chief, told of the ongoing harm to Palestinians: ‘The only thing that’s really changed is that the large-scale killings have decreased, but they have not stopped.’
A pro-Palestine student march in central London has been given strict conditions to prevent disruption.
The march is expected to begin from King’s College London in Strand and end at University College London in Russell Square, Holborn.
However, the Metropolitan Police has told participants to form up in a specific area at Lincoln’s Inn Fields at 12.30pm before heading to Russell Square.
The rally must also end at Russel Square by 2pm, with protestors being required to disperse at this time.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the date would be one of ‘mourning and reflection’ for many people in London and acknowledged concerns within Jewish communities.
A separate student protest is also planned for Marble Arch between 1pm and 4pm.
Police said conditions would be imposed requiring that demonstration to take place away from Marble Arch, with further details due to be published.
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