Eerie Silence as Israel Remembers and Mourns
Although there was a minute’s silence of remembrance at 6.29am on October 7th 2024, it was a blanket of eerie silence that shrouded Israel throughout the day.
Most people stayed at home, due to Intelligence warning of terror attacks, as Islamic groups promised to recreate October 7th all over again.
The Israeli media marked the day by broadcasting from the destroyed kibbutzim around Gaza. Behind the respectably dressed newscasters was a background of burned houses and destruction. An interactive timeline enabled people to click on an app and watch the news in real time as news broke throughout the day one year ago. A strip moved along the bottom of the screen with the names of the thousands murdered since the war broke out.
Yet much coverage was devoted to those who showed incredible courage in risking their lives to save others, and often paid the ultimate price.
The IDF continued to bomb Lebanon, striking 20 Hezbollah strongholds in the space of 50 minutes, which made it the second biggest bombing attack since the 83 tons of explosives dropped on Hasan Nasrallah.
Rockets were launched from Gaza into central Israel setting off sirens in Tel Aviv. Hezbollah sent northern residents into their shelters too. And before the sun had set, Prime Minister Netanyahu summed his ministers for an emergency meeting which sparked off hope, muted with apprehension, that the reprisals on Iran were not so far way.
