ISRAEL – Israel is observing a somber day of commemoration to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, an assault that left more than 1,200 people dead and over 200 were taken hostage. As dawn broke, hundreds of people gathered at the site of the Nova festival to honor those killed there that day. Hours later, a memorial was held in Tel Aviv and at a Kibbutz Nir Oz, where one in four residents were killed or abducted by Hamas.

Israel’s ensuing war in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 people and triggered a humanitarian crisis, catalyzing a widening regional conflict. The Israeli military launched a new offensive in northern Gaza this weekend, and struck multiple locations in the enclave overnight, including a hospital compound.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country faces war on seven fronts, naming Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas. Israel’s defense minister told CNN “everything is on the table” for its response to last week’s Iranian missile barrage.

Israel has pounded Beirut in recent days with some of the most intense bombing of its war against Hezbollah, which has killed more than 1,400 people in Lebanon. In Israel, a Hezbollah rocket attack on Haifa has wounded five people in what appeared to be the first time the group has struck the northern city during the conflict. (CNN)  …[+]