Israel Faces Rocket Barrages from Gaza and Lebanon as It Marks One Year Since Hamas Massacre

Tel Aviv, October 7, 2024 — Israel commemorated the first anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, with solemn memorials across the country, even as it faced escalating hostilities on multiple fronts.  Attacks a year ago, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 250 hostages, marked a watershed moment in the region’s history, igniting a war that continues today. 

In a reflection of ongoing violence, missiles from Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen rained down on Israeli cities throughout the day, forcing the country’s military into high alert as citizens mourned in losses. Over 140 rockets were launched into northern Israel by Hezbollah, while Hamas targeted Tel Aviv with two rocket strikes. In a coordinated effort, missiles fired from Yemen were intercepted over central Israel. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led a somber ceremony in Jerusalem, lighting candles at the Iron Sword memorial, a tribute to those killed in last year’s Hamas onslaught. “We remember our fallen, and we stand strong in the face of ongoing aggression,” Netanyahu said, vowing that Israel would continue its military campaign until the region’s security reality changed. 

Simultaneously, memorials took place across the country, including a large gathering in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, where emotional tributes were paid to victims. Popular Israeli singers performed, and images of those who perished in attacks were displayed on large screens.  Remains of destroyed vehicles and children’s toys, symbolic of the massacre at the Nova music festival and  Be’eri kibbutz, were also shown. 

As mourners gathered to honor the dead, fighting continued. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported a strike on a Hezbollah intelligence base near Tel Aviv. In response to a barrage from Lebanon, IDF retaliated with targeted airstrikes in southern Beirut, part of its expanded campaign against Hezbollah, which began shortly after the war with Hamas escalated last year. 

The situation in Lebanon has reached new levels of intensity. According to local reports, over 190 rocket launches from Hezbollah have been detected in the past 24 hours, and southern suburbs of Beirut have been bombarded by Israeli jets.  Strikes have resulted in explosions, suggesting ammunition depots were hit.  Lebanese Health Ministry has reported nearly 2,000 deaths since the start of this renewed conflict, with over 1.2 million people displaced. 

Meanwhile, Iran has issued a stern warning to Israel following the interception of missiles launched from Yemen, stating that any retaliation against Iranian interests would lead to severe consequences. Iran, a key backer of both Hamas and Hezbollah, has been increasingly implicated in war, providing both groups with logistical and financial support. 

International leaders have expressed concerns that war, now stretching beyond Gaza and Lebanon, could spiral into a wider regional conflict.  Biden administration has privately expressed its worry that Israel’s expanded operations in Lebanon could grow into a prolonged and large-scale war. Despite these concerns, Israel shows no sign of halting its campaign, which it describes as necessary to ensure the safety of its citizens. 

In Gaza, where fighting began a year ago,  the toll continues to rise.  Palestinian Health Ministry reports that over 41,000 people have been killed since October 2023, with more than half of the casualties being women and children. Israeli forces maintain that their strikes target Hamas militants, although they admit that civilians have been caught in the crossfire. 

Violence has also spilled over into the West Bank, where Israeli forces reportedly killed two Palestinians in confrontations near Ramallah. As the anniversary of the massacre is marked by ongoing violence, Israeli authorities have called on northern Gaza residents to evacuate southward to avoid the latest military operations. 

While Israel commemorates the tragedy of October 7, 2023, it faces renewed threats and challenges that show no sign of abating. With missiles continuing to fall from multiple directions and tensions escalating with Iran and Hezbollah,  the region teeters on the edge of a wider conflict.  Memories of those lost are still fresh, but the violence that claimed our lives has not yet ended. 

As the day of remembrance draws to a close, Israel stands vigilant, facing a complex battle on multiple fronts, even as it mourns victims of last year’s massacre.