‘Today we stand with Israel’: World leaders share condolences on third anniversary of Oct. 7

“The 7 October attacks were a barbaric act of terror. Today, we stand with Israel in remembering every life taken and destroyed at the hands of the Hamas terrorists,” Kallas said in a post on X.

European Commission Vice President and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas decried Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre as a barbaric act of terror and expressed her solidarity with Israel on Wednesday.

“The 7 October attacks were a barbaric act of terror. Today, we stand with Israel in remembering every life taken and destroyed at the hands of the Hamas terrorists,” Kallas said in a post on X/Twitter on the three-year anniversary of the massacre.

“Hamas brought unspeakable suffering to the Israeli people and left devastation in its wake,” she added, urging Hamas to disarm and allow for peace efforts in Gaza to proceed. 

“Our thoughts are with the victims, the survivors, their families and all those who continue to carry the pain of that terrible day.”

Kallas continues to call for Europe to reject all forms of antisemitism and ensure that Jewish communities can live safely and without fear.

UK vows to combat post-Oct. 7 rise in antisemitism

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham similarly denounced the attack and noted the impact it has had on his country’s Jewish community.

“I want Britain’s Jewish community to hear this from me directly. We stand with you. Abuse and violence against you, in any form, will not be tolerated,” he stated. “Not on our streets, not online, not in our schools or universities.”

Burnham also vowed to advocate for a two-state solution on the international stage.

Ed Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary, released a video statement extending his condolences to those whose loved ones were killed in the massacre. 

Miliband asserted that the British government “stands emphatically against Hamas and their murderous antisemitic ideology and against all those who would seek the destruction of Israel and its people,” describing October 7 as “the most appalling atrocities against the Israeli people.”

“We will continue to do everything in our power to fight terrorism and hatred and to further the pursuit of peace,” he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron similarly shared his condolences and vowed not to forget the more than 1,200 victims of the attacks, including the 51 French nationals who were killed by Hamas.

“Three years since we share the grief of the State of Israel and the bereaved families. Three years later, we do not forget the names or the faces: those of Maya, Ohad, Valentin, and so many others,” Macron lamented.

He asserted that his country remains committed to fighting antisemitism and terrorism in pursuit of peace.

October 7 a 'profound turning point'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the massacre as a profound turning point, sharing his condolences in a social media post.

“We mourn the victims and share in their pain,” Merz said. “We must confront antisemitism with even greater determination. Jewish people should be able to live here without fear.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried Hamas’s targeting of civilians during the attack and the terrorist organization's taking of hostages as unjustifiable atrocities in a statement on the anniversary.

“Three years on, the pain of 7 October endures for the families who lost loved ones, for survivors and for all those whose lives were forever changed… I mourn those who were killed in the attacks and those who died in captivity,” he said, asserting that their suffering must not be forgotten.

Guterres also urged that the Gaza peace plan be implemented and called for a political path to regional peace to be built.