"The darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust": Keir Starmer marks anniversary of Hamas attack

Sir Keir Starmer has marked the anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel as the 'darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust'.

The Prime Minister reiterated his calls for a ceasefire as he spoke out on the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Monday is one year since the attacks in Israel, which triggered Israel's subsequent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

Starmer said that 'we must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community' and that 'collective grief has not diminished' in the year since.

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“Over a thousand people were brutally murdered. Men, women, children and babies killed, mutilated, and tortured by the terrorists of Hamas. Jewish people murdered whilst protecting their families, young people massacred at a music festival, people abducted from their homes,” the Prime Minister said.

“Agonising reports of rape, torture and brutality beyond comprehension which continued to emerge days and weeks later. As a father, a husband, a son, a brother – meeting the families of those who lost their loved ones last week was unimaginable.

"Their grief and pain are ours, and it is shared in homes across the land. A year on, that collective grief has not diminished or waned.”

Writing for the Sunday Times this weekend, the Prime Minister said that the 'sparks' from the conflict in the Middle East 'light touchpapers in our own communities' as he called out 'vile hatred' against Jews and Muslims.

Meanwhile, Cabinet minister Peter Kyle said he is working 'in lockstep' with international allies on calls for Israel to exercise 'restraint' as the conflict in the Middle East has escalated in recent weeks.

Continuing in his statement, Sir Keir said: “One year on from these horrific attacks we must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community and unite as a country. We must never look the other way in the face of hate.

“We must also not look the other way as civilians bear the ongoing dire consequences of this conflict in the Middle East. I reiterate my call for immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, and for the removal of all restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

On Sunday, groups of Jewish and Muslim women came together to mark the anniversary and to help 'stop the hate on (Britain’s) streets'.

In Manchester, thousands gathered in the city centre for march for Israel. Over 4,000 people participated as banners featured photographs of people still being held hostage by proscribed terror group Hamas.