Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, stressed the importance of bringing back the hostages held by Hamas during a solemn ceremony at the Israeli embassy in Delhi, marking the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Speaking at the event, Azar said, “One year ago, October 7 shook us to our core. It took a few hours to grasp the terrible atrocities happening on our southern border. Israel will prevail. We will defeat our enemies. We will bring back the hostages. We will work hard to learn from our mistakes.”
Highlighting India’s support for Israel, the envoy expressed gratitude, saying, “We are grateful for the support of the Government and people of India, who stand with us and partner with our neighbors to build a better future.”
Azar went on to describe the horrific scenes of murder, kidnapping, and burning, as well as the celebrations in Gaza as hostages were dragged from vehicles. “These terrorists were killing and boasting about it. They are worse than animals,” the Ambassador emphasized.
“Only after a day or two did we begin to fully understand what had happened to us. It became unbearable. In the following weeks and months, as more horrific scenes and stories of abuse and torture emerged, we entered a state of constant anxiety—sleepless nights and nightmares,” he added.
The envoy drew parallels with Israel’s past, citing the surprise attack in 1973. “Approximately 50 years ago, the national trauma haunted us for years after the war, affecting the psyche of an entire generation.”
However, Azar noted that the October 7 attack was different. “Fifty years later, the 7th of October 2023 was much worse. Not just because more people died that day, and continue to die as we speak, but because on a national level, the basic contract between citizen and state was breached. We, the government of Israel and the IDF, failed in our most basic and essential mission: to defend our citizens.”
Despite the challenges, the Ambassador highlighted Israel’s resilience. “We regained trust in ourselves and in our society. Tens of thousands of Israelis returned from abroad to join the fight for our defense,” he said.
The Ambassador also praised Israel’s youth, stating, “The most amazing thing to see is our young generation. We failed them, but they have outperformed beyond all expectations.”
He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to its homeland and its determination to achieve peace.
(ANI)