'A year of hard and continuous war': Israeli leaders commemorate Oct. 7 anniversary

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated He reiterated Israel's duty to return the hostages home, support the wounded, and remember the fallen. 

 Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and former prime minister Naftali Bennett address the October 7 massacre on the one-year anniversary commemorating the events. October 7, 2024. (photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/ SEBASTIAN SCHEINER/POOL VIA REUTERS/YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90 )
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and former prime minister Naftali Bennett address the October 7 massacre on the one-year anniversary commemorating the events. October 7, 2024.
(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/ SEBASTIAN SCHEINER/POOL VIA REUTERS/YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90 )

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, reflecting on the year of war since Hamas’s October 7 massacre last year, reiterated in a post on X/Twitter on Monday that Israel would continue to defend itself.

"A year has passed since that morning when the State of Israel woke up to a brutal attack that led to the most just war in all our years. A year of hard and continuous war, day and night," Gallant said.

"Today, more than ever, we carry a deep commitment to continue doing everything necessary to defend the homeland and to be worthy of the legacy of our loved ones, our fallen comrades - citizens and soldiers," he added. 

He reiterated Israel's duty to return the hostages home, support the wounded, and remember the fallen. 

He said Israel would rehabilitate the parts of the country that were affected, in the South and the North, and return the citizens to their homes in safety.

Naftali Bennet shares story of fallen combat soldier

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also took to X, sharing a story of Chen Bukris, a Maglan officer who was killed on October 7, defending kibbutz Nahal Oz. 

"What a hero, what a loss, what a family," Bennett wrote.