Today, we commemorate a tragic and heartbreaking anniversary. On October 7, 2023, over 1,200 men, women, and children, including 46 Americans and citizens from more than 30 countries, were brutally killed by Hamas—the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Many girls and women faced sexual assault, highlighting the unspeakable nature of Hamas’s actions.
On that same day, Hamas took 254 persons hostage, among them 12 Americans. Four of those Americans—Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Itay Chen, Judy Weinstein, and Gad Haggai—were murdered. While four others were released following a U.S.-negotiated agreement last November, four remain captive in Gaza: Edan Alexander, Keith Siegel, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Omer Neutra. Additionally, around 97 other hostages are still held in Gaza, encompassing men, women, young boys, young girls, two infants, and elderly individuals from over 25 nations. Hamas must release these hostages immediately; each one deserves to be reunited with their families.
The attacks by Hamas on October 7 initiated a year of conflict, resulting in tragic consequences for the Palestinian people as well. The United States mourns every innocent life lost on that day and in the year that followed. It is imperative to achieve a ceasefire that not only secures the release of the hostages but also alleviates the suffering of both Israeli and Palestinian communities, ultimately bringing an end to the ongoing war.
In November 2023, after weeks of negotiations, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement that facilitated the release of 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This deal also included a temporary ceasefire. By the conclusion of the extended truce, a total of 108 hostages had been freed, comprising women and children, before hostilities resumed on December 01st 2023.
Israeli military operations in Gaza have managed to rescue several hostages over the past year. In February, two Israeli-Argentinian citizens, Fernando Marman and Louis Har, were freed in Rafah after being held for four months.
In June, a bold rescue in Nuseirat led to the release of four hostages—Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv—who had been kidnapped from the Nova music festival eight months earlier. However, this operation came with a heavy toll, as reports indicate that over 200 Palestinians were killed as collateral damage. Since her rescue, 26-year-old Noa Argamani has shared her experiences of the horrors she faced in captivity and is actively working to advocate for the release of the remaining hostages.
In August, the rescue of Farhan Al-Qadi, a Bedouin Israeli hostage, from Hamas’ tunnel network marked a significant step forward in Israel’s efforts to find captives. Al-Qadi, who was taken from Kibbutz Magen during the October 7 attacks, was the first person recovered from Hamas’s extensive underground tunnels.
It has been 365 days since the Israel-Hamas war began. Here are some key numbers to illustrate the devastation it has caused in West Asia.
Approximately 45,000 people have lost their lives, according to various reports. In the first three months of the conflict, the damage was estimated at around $18.5 billion. By the end of 2024, the total cost for Israel is projected to reach $66 billion, which would be about 12 percent of its GDP, according to the Bank of Israel.
The conflict has also spread to Lebanon and involved Iran, resulting in the displacement of over 2 million people, as reported by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.
The international community must remain resolute against terrorism and violent extremism, including the support networks for groups like Hamas. It is essential to condemn Iran’s backing of Hamas and other terrorist organisations that contribute to widespread death, destruction, and instability in the region.
Israel estimates that 251 individuals, including both Israelis and foreign nationals, were taken during the assault on October 7. Over the past year, some military operations have successfully rescued hostages, while others have ended in tragedy.