TYLER, Texas — Monday marks one year since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel that killed roughly 1,200 people.
At the time, the militants took about 250 others hostage, and a year later, 100 hostages remain in Gaza. Officials believe less than 70 are alive, according to the Associated Press. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that almost 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.
Protestors across the world gathered this weekend to demand a ceasefire and end to the war. On Sunday, East Texans came together at the Congregation Beth El in Tyler to remember those who lost their lives in this war.
"The biggest Jewish massacre since the Holocaust," Emilia Duran said.
Oct. 7, 2023, is a day that many people in the Jewish community will never forget.
"Oct. 7 is etched in our minds as sort of the new day of mourning and loss in the Jewish world, but it's also a day of pride and resilience," said Rabbi Neal Katz of Congregation Beth El.
Katz said marking yearly anniversaries is significant in the Jewish faith.
"In Judaism, we have a tradition that starting at the one-year anniversary of somebody's death," Katz said. "You do what's called a yard site. You do a special prayer on a yearly anniversary."
But it’s not only Jews and the people of Israel suffering, innocent Palestinians not involved in the war are also enduring bloodshed.
Anwar Khalifa, spokesperson for the East Texas Islamic Society in Tyler, said he condemns the deadly attacks committed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
"It was terrible what Hamas did in Israel. But the unfortunate is the Palestinian people, they have no hope and no one to give them hope, and they just they're in the middle of this fight," Khalifa said.
One year later, the war between Israel and Hamas continues to take countless lives with no ceasefire in plan and more destruction likely in the future.
"I don't know how much more killing needs to happen. There's been a lot of killing happening. A lot of innocent folks have been killed on both sides," Khalifa said.
Duran said she has seen graphic scenes in Israel as she's gone to volunteer there. She and Katz say the 2023 attacks and subsequent war have caused everlasting pain in the Jewish community in Israel.
"Everyone there has been through a trauma and are still going through that trauma," Duran said.
Katz said there has yet to be a moment of pause or rest.
"There is not post traumatic stress, it is current traumatic stress. And that's not just for Israelis. It's for so many in the Middle East," Katz said.
After one year since those attacks and generations of conflicts, all innocent civilians can do is wait and pray for the fighting to end.
"So for an entire year, we have incorporated this, both emotionally and spiritually, into our community," Katz said. "And it's exhausting, but it's not over. And I've always said, in order to achieve peace, we need to defeat the enemies of peace."
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