There are renewed calls for an end to the violence in the Middle East on the anniversary of the October 7th attacks.

Around 1,200 people were killed when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this day last year, with another 250 taken hostage.

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza in the 12 months since has killed over 41,000 people, with over 95,000 injured.

The World Health Organisation estimates that by late July, more than 22,500 people had suffered life-changing injuries in the Israeli attacks.

Meanwhile, more than 2,000 people have been killed since Israel intensified its attacks on neighbouring Lebanon in recent weeks.

This morning, world leaders charities and human rights groups are calling for an end to violence on the anniversary of the Hamas attack.

Violence

ActionAid Ireland CEO Karol Balfe told Newstalk that women and children have been disproportionately impacted by the violence.

“Since October 7th last year, over 6,000 women have been killed and over 11,000 children,” she said.

“There are 19,000 children in Gaza who have been orphaned and there are thousands and thousands more dead under the rubble.”

Ms Balfe also hit out at the US and other Western nations for allowing Israel to act with impunity over the past year.

“It is a stain on US President Joe Biden’s term that this is, you know, 41,000 Palestinians dead, over 700 in the west bank, now 2,000 in Lebanon,” she said.

“There are still close to 100 hostages somewhere in Gaza. We need world leaders and particularly the United States to take more action.”

Ceremonies

Ceremonies and protests are due to be held across Israel today to mark the October 7th anniversary.

The memorials were due to begin at 6.29am (4.29am Irish time) – the time at which Hamas first launched rockets into Israel at the start of the attack.

Israel officials have said security forces are on high alert in anticipation of possible attacks planned to mark the anniversary.

Hostages

Some 97 of the 250 hostages Israel has said were taken on the day remain unaccounted for and 22-year-old Omer Wenkert is one of them.

At a protest in Jerusalem, his mum Niva addressed him directly.

“I miss you so much,” she said. “I miss you every minute.”

“Every cell of my body; every breath I take, Omer, I am so afraid.”

It comes as families of the hostages gathered near Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence and stood during a two-minute siren – replicating a custom from Holocaust Remembrance and Memorial Day.

They warned Mr Netanyahu that they won’t let him rest until each of the hostages are back home.

In the hours leading up to the anniversary, Israel bombed targets in Beirut and Gaza, while Hezbollah rockets struck Israel’s third-largest city, Haifa.

Main image shows people visiting the site of the Nova music festival, where hundreds of people were killed and abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza, on the anniversary of the attack, 07-10-2024. Image: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

With reporting from Joe Caulfield nad Michael Staines.