Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday paid tribute to victims of the October 7, 2023 attacks and vowed to press on with military and diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages and eliminate Hamas rule in Gaza.
His remarks came as Israelis gathered at memorials and as indirect talks over a ceasefire continued in Egypt.
Netanyahu described the Oct. 7 assault as a "horrific slaughter" that cost many lives, including infants, children and the elderly, and recalled 251 people taken into Gaza.
He said he and his wife bowed their heads in memory of the slain and extended support to bereaved families and the wounded, both physically and mentally.
Addressing the nation, Netanyahu framed the conflict as existential and outlined three clear objectives: return all hostages, end Hamas’s rule in Gaza and ensure Gaza no longer threatens Israel.
He said Israeli forces were delivering "powerful blows" against adversaries on multiple fronts and that the country had shown remarkable resilience in the face of the attacks.
The anniversary has again focused attention on the fate of remaining captives and on the human cost of the prolonged conflict.
Thousands attended memorial services in southern Israel and elsewhere, while international actors continued to push for a negotiated pause that could secure humanitarian relief and hostage releases.
Netanyahu closed his message with a call for unity and determination, saying that with national resolve and divine help Israel would prevail.
The challenge remains whether diplomacy, military pressure and international mediation can converge to end the cycle of violence and free those still held in Gaza.