▲ Israeli hostages being taken to the Gaza Strip
As Israel marks 1,000 days since the surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel, voices demanding a thorough investigation into the country's security failures have intensified, according to local media outlets including The Times of Israel on July 2 (local time).
Esther Buchshtav, mother of Yagev Buchshtav, who was kidnapped and killed by Hamas, expressed her outrage, stating, "1,000 days have passed since the abandonment began. Military pressure has failed to save the hostages and has instead harmed them."
She continued, "However, the government insisted on its own path and completely ignored the people who were there. We, who have lived through the massacre and feel the destruction and loss every day, will never forget or give up our demand for the establishment of an inquiry commission to investigate and explain what happened on the day of the disaster and in its aftermath."
Danny Elgarat, brother of murdered hostage Itzik Elgarat, spoke at a rally held in front of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv, saying, "For 1,000 days, I have heard people say countless times that the hostages have returned. But they have not all returned."
On the morning of October 7, 2023, which was the Sabbath following the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, Hamas infiltrated southern Israel with approximately 3,000 armed militants.
At the time, Hamas militants massacred about 1,200 Israeli residents and soldiers, and took approximately 250 people hostage to the Gaza Strip.
Israel has faced criticism for being caught off guard despite signs of a potential Hamas surprise attack, and for failing to protect its citizens due to a delayed response once the situation unfolded.
In particular, the Supernova music festival held near a kibbutz in Re'im, southern Israel, was stained with the blood of young people fleeing from Hamas militants.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.