International News
Israel Observes First Anniversary Of October 7 Hamas Attack
Israel on Monday commemorated the first anniversary of Hamas’s devastating October 7 assault, which left over 1,200 dead, primarily civilians, in a series of unprecedented attacks.
The occasion was marked by vigils and memorials at massacre sites across the country, alongside growing concerns about escalating violence as renewed rocket fire from Gaza and clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon underscored the region’s enduring instability.
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At 6:29 a.m., the precise moment the assault began a year ago, Israeli President Isaac Herzog led a moment of silence at Kibbutz Reim, near the site of the Nova music festival, where 370 people were killed in the deadliest single episode of the attack.
Tearful families gathered at the ceremony to honor the victims, many of whom were killed by heavily armed Hamas fighters.
“This is a difficult day for us all,” Herzog said, addressing the mourners.
The October 7 attack saw Palestinian militants storming across the Gaza border, targeting multiple communities and events, including the Nova music festival, army bases, and kibbutzim.
The death toll on the Israeli side reached 1,205, according to official figures, with more than 250 people taken hostage.
Nearly 100 are still held captive in Gaza, including 37 whom the Israeli military believes to be dead.
Monday’s commemorations, taking place both in Israel and cities worldwide, followed large international gatherings over the weekend to honor the victims.
In Tel Aviv, thousands attended a vigil for the Nova festival victims, while other events around the globe expressed solidarity with Palestinians affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Even as Israelis marked the grim anniversary, tensions remained high.
The Israeli military reported at least four projectiles fired from Gaza just minutes after the day’s ceremonies began, targeting areas near the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings.
In response, Israeli forces struck Hamas infrastructure throughout Gaza. Meanwhile, the northern region of Israel continues to face daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon, further inflaming fears of a broader conflict.
In Sderot, a town near the Gaza border, Herzog led a memorial event to remember those killed in last year’s attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the nation, reaffirming his commitment to defeating Hamas.
“A year ago, we suffered a terrible blow, but we have transformed the situation on the ground,” Netanyahu said. “We will not stop until Hamas is destroyed.”
Netanyahu’s government has been locked in a protracted war with Hamas in Gaza since last October, launching a series of military operations aimed at dismantling the group’s leadership and infrastructure.
Despite these efforts, Hamas fighters have regrouped in several areas of northern Gaza, leading to continued clashes with Israeli forces.
In recent days, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hamas positions in the Jabaliya area, killing at least 17 people, including nine children, according to rescue teams on the ground.
The conflict has also spilled over into Israel’s northern front, where tensions with Hezbollah have intensified.
Over the past year, Hezbollah has launched regular rocket fire from Lebanon in support of Hamas, prompting Israeli airstrikes in response.
Israeli military action in Lebanon has left more than 1,100 people dead and displaced over a million civilians, while Hezbollah rockets continue to target northern Israeli communities.
The anniversary arrives as Israel faces the possibility of a wider regional war, particularly in the wake of an Iranian missile attack last week that further raised tensions.
With the threat of an expanded conflict looming, Israeli military leaders continue to stress the importance of maintaining pressure on both Hamas and Hezbollah.
Amid the violence, families of hostages still held by Hamas rallied in Tel Aviv, holding banners and placards with images of their loved ones.
Although a truce in November resulted in the release of over 100 hostages, 97 remain in captivity. “We want them home,” one protester said. “It’s been a year, and our families are still waiting.”
As Israel reflects on the horrors of last year’s attack, the country remains on high alert, preparing for the possibility of further escalation on multiple fronts.
Despite military gains, the conflict shows no signs of abating, with the region’s future as uncertain as it was one year ago.
The United Kingdom is considering sweeping new restrictions that could limit or completely block children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, as part of a broader push to improve online safety and reduce excessive screen time among young users.
The proposal, currently under government consultation, is being led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and focuses on addressing concerns over how teenagers interact with platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
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Officials say the move is driven by growing evidence and public concern that algorithm-driven feeds and “endless scrolling” features may be negatively affecting children’s sleep patterns, concentration levels, and overall well-being.
The government is also reviewing whether additional measures such as app curfews and time limits should be introduced.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the consultation has already attracted widespread public input, with tens of thousands of responses from parents, teenagers, and advocacy groups.
She noted that the government is particularly interested in feedback on addictive platform design features and the use of AI tools targeting younger users.
The UK is also studying policies already implemented in other countries. Australia has introduced stricter age-based restrictions, while Greece and Indonesia have also moved toward tighter regulation of children’s access to social media.
Authorities emphasize that no final decision has been made, but the consultation process is expected to shape future legislation on how tech companies operate and how young users are protected online in the digital age.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked global reactions following his remarks about Pope Leo XIV after the Pope’s recent anti-war message calling for peace in conflict-hit regions.
The controversy began after Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong appeal at the Vatican, urging world leaders to end ongoing wars and prioritise dialogue over violenceviolence.
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The pontiff warned against the “idolatry of power” and called for global cooperation to restore peace.
Reacting to the message, Trump told reporters he is “not a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV, describing him as “very liberal” and questioning his views on crime and international security.
The U.S. President further criticised the Pope’s stance on global conflicts, suggesting his message overlooks serious security challenges linked to rising geopolitical tensions, including nuclear concerns.
In a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump intensified his criticism, accusing the Pope of taking a weak position on foreign policy matters and suggesting political factors influenced his leadership position.
The comments have since triggered widespread debate across political and religious circles, adding to ongoing tensions between Washington and the Vatican over issues such as immigration policy, military action, and global diplomacy.
While both sides have previously denied any formal rift, the latest exchange has renewed global attention on their differing positions regarding war and peace efforts.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that Mohammed Wishah, an Al Jazeera journalist killed in a strike in Gaza on Wednesday, was a Hamas operative “operating under the guise of a journalist.”
According to Israeli forces, Wishah was “a key terrorist in Hamas’ rocket and weapons production headquarters” and had been planning attacks against soldiers in the area.
The military said he used his journalist identity to advance Hamas’ operations against Israel.
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Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based broadcaster, strongly condemned the killing. In a statement, the network described the attack as a “heinous crime of targeting and killing” its correspondent and insisted the strike was deliberate, not accidental.
The channel vowed to pursue “all necessary legal action to prosecute those responsible for the killing of its correspondents and staff in Gaza.”
Media rights organization Reporters Without Borders also condemned the incident, stating that Wishah’s name now joins “more than 220 journalists killed in two and a half years by Israeli forces in Gaza, at least 70 of whom were killed while performing their duties.”
The killing occurred despite a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza that has been in effect since October 2025, highlighting ongoing tensions and frequent accusations of truce violations by both Israel and Hamas.
Al Jazeera listed Wishah among 11 of its journalists killed in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
Past incidents include the killing of Mohammad Salama in August 2025 and the deaths of four Al Jazeera staff and two freelancers outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City earlier that year, prompting widespread condemnation.
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