AUSTIN, Texas — Monday, Oct. 7, marks one year since Hamas launched attacks on Israel, sparking a conflict in Gaza that’s spilled over into other Middle Eastern countries.
The attacks across Israel killed 1,200 people, and 250 more were taken hostage.
“Today we remember those who were taken from us one year ago in the deadliest attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” said Gov. Greg Abbott.
Abbott joined Jewish leaders in Austin on Monday and held a remembrance at the Shalom Austin Dell Jewish Community Center.
Daniel Septimus is the rabbi of Shalom Austin.
“It was on a Jewish holiday. It was on a day of great celebration. We finished reading our cycle of the Tora, the five books of Moses, instead incursion of terrorists coming and killing innocent people,” Septimus said.
Gov. Abbott also read the read the names of Americans still held hostage by Hamas. Those are Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judith Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra and Keith Siegel.
Monday also hits home for Kim Kass. She still has family in Israel.
“We lost so many people, only going to a peace festival. It was literally a party for peace and all these lives gone. Honor the lives, the people we lost. Pray for the return of the hostages and peace,” Kass said.
The attacks of Oct. 7 led to all-out war between Israel and Hamas. In the past year, more than 40,000 people, many civilians, have been killed in Gaza.
Palestinian supporters have rallied, including over the weekend here in Austin, calling for a cease-fire and a peaceful resolution.