UN Director General: 'October 7 should never be forgotten'

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Today marks one year since the October 7 attacks in Israel, when Hamas launched a surprise attack that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took about 250 people hostage.

The day marked the start of the latest Hamas-Israel conflict that has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says the date should never be forgotten.

“The attack of October 7 has scarred the souls – and on this day we remember all those who were brutally murdered and suffered unspeakable violence – including sexual violence – while going about their lives. This is a day for the global community to reaffirm our utmost condemnation of Hamas’ abhorrent actions, including the taking of hostages.”

There have been pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian marches around the world to commemorate that fateful day.

In Paris, thousands of people gathered to pay tribute to the dead and stand with those still in captivity.

Ayelet Samerano, the mother of Jonathan Samerano, who died after he was shot and kidnapped at the Supernova Festival, says she still lives that tragedy every day.

“It’s a very painful week, but in fact it’s a very painful year because I’m still on the first day, October 7. I haven’t moved on. Every day is very difficult for me.”

About 3,500 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through Berlin demanding a “free Gaza” and a “free Palestine.”

Protester Kelsey Buchanan of Australia called Israel’s invasion of Gaza a “convenient pretext” for “genocide” and claimed its purpose was not the return of hostages.

“I mean, there’s obviously a lot of diversity of opinion within Israel itself about how this goes, but basically I think it was a convenient pretext for Israel to then invade Gaza and commit genocide against the Palestinian people and their cause. It was never about returning the hostages or setting things right with their own people. So I guess that’s, I don’t know, not what it’s about for me anymore.”

The war has spread to Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq, with Israel escalating its actions in Lebanon.

About 2,000 Lebanese have been killed in the past year, most in the past two weeks.

UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi warned in Beirut of a “major displacement crisis” due to Israel’s intensified airstrikes, some of which he says have violated international law.

Lebanese officials estimate that 1.2 million people are now displaced.

Mr Grandi also noted multiple violations of humanitarian law, with airstrikes destroying civilian infrastructure and blocking access to a key border crossing between Lebanon and Syria.

“You have a humanitarian challenge due to displacement, but also a humanitarian challenge. And I would say that human rights challenges, because of the impossibility of being displaced, the circumstances prevent people from fleeing. And by the way, the bombing of the road has de facto discouraged many people from seeking safety in Syria is another example.”

Israel has issued new evacuation orders in southern Lebanon as it continues attacks on Beirut.

Meanwhile, thousands of residents from Jabaliya in northern Gaza fled south on Sunday following Israel’s evacuation order.

People carried as much as they could, some on foot, others using donkeys and carts, including Samia Khader.

“They threw grenades at us and the Jews took us out and said there was an evacuation. We left and now we don’t know where to go. Schools, shelters, health centers. No one knows where to go. The situation is difficult .”

The Israeli army launched a new air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, home to a refugee camp since the 1948 war.

Despite previous operations, militants have regrouped in the area.

At least 26 people were killed in previous attacks on a mosque and a school in Deir al-Balah, Gaza.

The Israeli military said the targets were Hamas fighters.

Israel’s ambassador to Britain, Tzipi Hotovely, tells Sky News that Israeli forces have no interest in killing civilians, and that their only goal is to secure the return of the hostages taken on October 7.

“Israel has no war objectives. We just want our people to be safe in their homes. And something that we could not achieve on October 7, as you know. People felt like they were losing their safety. And this is the first obligation of every government to ensure that people feel safe in their bedrooms.”

Lebanese Ambassador to Britain Rami Mortada also appeared on Sky News and stated that Israel has “rejected” a peace plan proposed by international forces, while Lebanon remains committed to it.

“We are dealing with a belligerent Israeli government. I think that if they tell you that they are concerned about the firing of rockets, if they tell you that their concerns are about 60,000 or so civilians being expelled from northern Israel, there is a diplomatic way to address these issues. Well, they chose a different path. They chose a path of violence, of brutalizing an entire population. It’s not even about Hezbollah. They make scapegoats here and there, like they scapegoated Hamas, it’s about Lebanon. It’s not about Hezbollah.”

This comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security review with his country’s commanders and spoke to troops.

“A year ago we suffered a terrible blow. In the last twelve months we have completely changed reality. The whole world is amazed at the blows you inflict on our enemies, and I salute you and say to you: you are the generation of victory.

This comes as Pope Francis called for peace and a ceasefire “on all fronts” during his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.

He called for the release of hostages still held in Gaza to mark the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel.

“Brothers and sisters, tomorrow will mark one year since Hamas’s terrorist attack on the people of Israel, with whom I renew my bond. Let us not forget that there are still many hostages in Gaza, I ask for their immediate release. From that day on, the Middle East has fallen into worse suffering as a result of destructive military actions that continue to affect the Palestinian people. These people are suffering so much in Gaza and in the other areas. They are mainly innocent civilians, they must receive the necessary humanitarian aid.”

The Pope called for an immediate ceasefire in all areas, including Lebanon, and appealed to the international community to break the cycle of revenge and prevent further escalation.

He declared Monday, October 7, a day of fasting and prayer, in memory of the Hamas attack.