Mitsotakis on the 1 year anniversary of the Hamas attack: “We don’t forget – Release all the hostages”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis posted on X on the one year anniversary since the attack by Hamas on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, sending the message “We do not forget.”

At the same time, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in his message, stressed that “the people of Israel have the right to live with security,” repeating the request for “the immediate release of all hostages.”

The prime minister also noted that “the region must have a chance for peace and security for all, starting with a ceasefire.”

The full message:

One year after the horrific terrorist attacks of October 7th, we do not forget. The people of Israel have the right to live with security. We also repeat our call for the immediate release of all hostages. Looking ahead, the region must have a chance for peace and security for all, starting with a ceasefire.

Heartbroken families recount horror of Nova festival attack on October 7 anniversary

The song that played as Hamas militants stormed the Nova music festival last year was replayed Monday during a memorial for those killed at the site in the October 7 attacks, CNN reported.

In an emotional moment for family and friends of those killed and kidnapped to Gaza, the track was played – and then stopped abruptly – at the same time as last year.

Many of those gathered at the memorial cried, hugged and comforted each other while recalling their loved ones’ final moments.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended the ceremony, speaking to families of those murdered here and walking through the memorial field.

The family of Gabriel Barel — his three brothers, mother and best friend — huddled around a portrait of Barel planted amid hundreds of similar memorials.

Barel was 22 when he was killed at the festival. For weeks after the massacre, his family didn’t know what happened to him. He was shot while driving away from the site and the car was subsequently burned, which made identifying his remains extremely difficult.

His brother Yeoda Barel said Gabriel was not meant to go to the party.

“He didn’t have a ticket, but he managed to sneak in and danced all night,” he said.

Yeoda said Gabriel left the festival shortly after the first rockets were fired from Gaza, when he got a call from his mother in the city of Ashkelon.

“She was on her own and was scared from the rockets, so he was going to go to her. He was concerned about her, not himself,” Yeoda, the youngest of Gabriel’s brothers, told CNN.

Yeoda and Gabriel’s best friend from the military, Noam, said he was a fun-loving guy, always surrounded by friends and saving up for a big trip to South America.

To pay tribute to Gabriel’s outgoing personality, the group gathered around his portrait and took a selfie, smiling for the camera.

“I miss him every day,” Yeoda said.

Israel’s president says: October 7 attack was “a scar on humanity”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog was among those holding commemorations this morning at the Nova festival site, where he described the October 7 attacks as a “scar on the face of the Earth” and called for countries to support Israel.

“October 7, 2023, is a day that should be remembered in infamy, when thousands of cruel terrorists broke into our homes, violated our families, burned, chopped, raped, and hijacked and abducted our citizens, our brothers and sisters, and with them, people from 36 different nationalities,” Herzog said.

“Blessed be those who fell, who were murdered and killed here. Young people who came to celebrate and enjoy dance and music — to live a real life of young people as any young person should be entitled to. Let us remember them forever. Let us pray, with remorse, pain, bereavement, and condolences to their families,” he added.

READ MORE: Migrants’ Unexpected Arrival on Scenic Greek Beach Leaves Tourists Astonished.