Global Tributes and Calls for Peace as Commemoration of Hamas Attack Continues

On the first anniversary of the devastating 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel, world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, have condemned the brutal violence that resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and took approximately 250 hostages. The attack, which targeted a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border, sparked an Israeli military offensive that has since claimed the lives of nearly 42,000 people, predominantly civilians. Commemoration of the anniversary has included official statements, formal ceremonies, and private vigils, with global leaders, such as Pope Francis and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, calling for an end to the fighting. Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself.