Hamas marks one year anniversary of 7 October attack

Hamas has released a statement on the first anniversary of its October 7 2023 surprise attack on Israel, defending its actions.

It said that the attack was a "natural response" to Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories including "seizing control of land and holy places, trying to take control of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, abusing prisoners, and maintaining the siege of the Gaza Strip".

The statement added that the attack was a "historic station" in Hamas's struggle against Israel.

During the events of 7 October, some 1,200 Israelis were killed by the Hamas-led attacks - as well as counter-fire by Israeli forces - in border settlements and military bases south of Israel.

The Palestinian fighters also captured 251 hostages and later released 105 of them during a November truce in the Gaza war.

Israel went on to launch a brutal and indiscriminate war on Gaza, flattening much of the enclave and wiping out entire families, with at least 41,900 people killed, including more than 17,000 children.

Israel has faced widespread accusations of war crimes and genocide from rights groups, NGOs, and many governments, notably that of South Africa, which has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice over the issue.

In its statement, Hamas also condemned Israel's "genocidal crimes", thanking the people of Gaza for their "great sacrifices" and support, even though the group had faced discontent and opposition to its rule in Gaza both before and after the October 7 attacks.

The statement also referred to Israel's assassination of Hamas leaders, such as the head of its political bureau Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last July, saying: "These cowardly assassinations committed by the [Israeli] occupation against the leaders and symbols of resistance will only increase us in strength and determination."

Hamas added that it had made "great efforts" for a ceasefire and was continuing to do so, saying it had engaged "with all positivity" with ceasefire initiatives while insisting on a permanent end to Israeli attacks and full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to reject a ceasefire both in Gaza and in Lebanon, insisting in the case of Gaza that Israel must permanently control the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza.

Negotiations have stalled since August and US officials have said on several occasions that they don’t expect a deal before US presidential elections in November.

Hamas’s statement accused the US, which has continued to provide billions of dollars worth of arms throughout the Gaza war of being a "partner in the aggression against the Palestinian people".

On the other hand, it expressed appreciation for Hezbollah, Lebanon's Jamaa Islamiya, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq group, which have all clashed with Israel since 7 October.