World Leaders Mark Third Anniversary of October 7 Attacks

French President Emmanuel Macron remembered the barbaric terrorist attacks that killed over 1,200 people, including 51 French citizens, and vowed that France would never forget the victims. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visited Israel, calling the attack the worst antisemitic act since the Holocaust, while Paris announced plans to name a path in Parc Monceau after the Bibas family, who were taken hostage. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU Foreign Minister Kaya Kallas both emphasized the urgent need to confront antisemitism so that Jewish communities can live safely and without fear.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to protect citizens from a worrying rise in antisemitism, particularly in educational institutions and public spaces, while reaffirming commitment to a two-state solution. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney also remembered the victims of the horrific terrorist attack, noting it represented the largest loss of Jewish lives in a single event since the Holocaust.

In the Netherlands, Prime Minister Rob Jetten acknowledged the Hamas attack but also extended his thoughts to the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army, drawing sharp criticism from Geert Wilders, who accused him of betrayal. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the atrocities committed by the terrorist organization Hamas and remembered the hostages, while also addressing Palestinian suffering and the destruction in Gaza.