Jerusalem. On the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of the attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, commemorations and protests were organized throughout Israel on Thursday. The families of the victims and the relatives of the hostages have reiterated their demand for the formation of a state-level commission of inquiry to impartially investigate the government’s decisions before and after the attack.
The program was started at 6:29 am. This is the time when Hamas started attacking Israel. According to official Israeli statistics, 1,221 people were killed in the attack and 251 people were taken hostage and taken to Gaza.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 73,000 people have died in the Gaza war that started after that. The United Nations has also been considering the statistics of the ministry as reliable. According to the ministry, at least 1,53 Palestinians have been killed even after the ceasefire came into effect on October 10 last year. The Israeli army said it lost five soldiers and one contractor during the same period. Currently, the Israeli army controls about 70 percent of the territory of Gaza.
The ‘October Council’, established by the families of the victims and hostages of October 7, has organized a demonstration in front of the parliament building and the residence of government officials. The council has demanded the formation of a State Commission of Inquiry to carry out an impartial investigation into the cause of the attack and the government’s role at the time.
Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” has been named “Memory Square” on this occasion. A special tribute program is being organized in the evening at Yarkon Park. Victims’ families, government officials and groups dissatisfied with the government’s role will participate there.
The Chief of the Israeli Army, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said that this day reminded the country of its responsibility and security more seriously, and mentioned that the army is ready to face the upcoming challenges. On the other hand, former army chief and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main competitor in the upcoming election, Gadi Ejenkot, has also reiterated his commitment to the country, mentioning that 1000 days of the attack have been completed.
Opinion polls have shown that the majority of Israeli citizens are in favor of an independent commission of inquiry into why the state apparatus failed to stop the attacks. But Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has so far refused to form such a commission.