World Leaders Mark October 7th Attacks With Condolences and Calls for Peace

World leaders issued messages of remembrance and support on the third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks, honoring victims and condemning the atrocities.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the Hamas attack as a "deep rupture" and reaffirmed Germany's commitment to fighting antisemitism, stating, "We commemorate the victims and share their pain. We must fight antisemitism with even greater determination. Jewish women and men must be able to live here without fear." He also expressed support for a two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

In France, presidential candidate Marine Le Pen compared the scenes of the massacre to pogroms, noting, "No one has forgotten those scenes of unimaginable barbarity, which cruelly recalled the pogroms, those events we thought were part of humanity's tragic past." She criticized those who attempted to justify or downplay the Hamas attack.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, "The EU stands with all those whose lives were forever changed by that day," adding, "The unspeakable savagery and terror of October 7 must never happen again." She also indicated the EU's readiness to help turn the current ceasefire into a lasting peace based on a two-state solution.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged "never to forget the cruelty of the terrorists," remembering the 1,200 people killed as the "greatest loss of Jewish lives in a single day since the Holocaust." He also affirmed Australia's stance against antisemitism and racism and called for Hamas to be disarmed and have no role in the Palestinian future. Australian opposition leader Angus Taylor issued a stronger message, accusing some of portraying Israel as the villain and Hamas as the victim, and warned that such distortions fuel antisemitism.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the Jewish community, stating, "We stand with you," and vowed to protect citizens from antisemitic hatred, calling the rise in such incidents since the Hamas attack "worrying."

In the Netherlands, Prime Minister Rob Jetten acknowledged the approximately 1,200 victims and over 250 hostages, describing them as "ordinary Israelis." He also noted the heavy price paid by Palestinians during the subsequent war, lamenting the region's descent into a "spiral of conflict and misery" and expressing hope for peace for grieving families on both sides. This statement drew sharp criticism from Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party, who called the Prime Minister a "traitor to Israel and the Jewish people" due to his government's policies, including condemnations and support for the International Criminal Court.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the Hamas attack "abhorrent" and remembered the over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals killed and 251 abducted. He also addressed the "Palestinian suffering in the Gaza Strip," calling for a permanent ceasefire, large-scale humanitarian aid, and respect for international law, expressing hope for a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.