Wrath and sorrow rule in Israel on the anniversary of October 7th

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. AS ISRAEL faces the first anniversary of the October 7th atrocities by Hamas, two huge challenges loom. One is Israel’s internal divisions, which will be highlighted by two separate commemoration services that are due to be held.

The other is how Israel prosecutes and eventually ends the multiple connected wars that it is now fighting, and not least how it retaliates to Iran’s recent ballistic-missile barrage. On October 5th General Michael Kurilla, head of America’s Central Command, arrived in Israel in an attempt to reach an agreement on that high-stakes question. The first anniversary of the October 7th attacks comes as Israel is at war on multiple fronts.

The fighting in Lebanon is intense, with ground operations and airstrikes continuing, which Israel says are targeted at Hizbullah infrastructure. In Gaza the violence seems never-ending, alongside a humanitarian disaster and over 40,000 dead Gazans. October 5th the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched another operation in Jabalia, a refugee camp next to Gaza city, in order to dislodge Hamas fighters who re-established control there.

It is possible that another terrorist attack or military operation against Israel by its many adversaries could further darken the day of October 7th. Alongside the fighting, there will be mourning by Israelis, Lebanese and Palestinians. In Israel this may illuminate divisions rather than heal them.