There has been some early reaction from European leaders on the first anniversary of the Hamas incursion into Israel which sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Hamas attacks, which saw 1,200 Israelis killed and 250 others taken hostage, were an example of “unspeakable savagery” which could not be justified.

“The European Union stands with all the innocent people whose lives have been shattered to the core since that fateful day,” she said in a statement.

She reiterated her call for a ceasefire in the Strip and the unconditional release of the Israelis still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli authorities say almost 100 hostages remain in Gaza, but fewer than 70 are believed to still be alive. 

“One year on, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is appalling. The European Union will keep doing its utmost to mobilise financial assistance and facilitate deliveries and distribution of humanitarian aid, to the Palestinian people, and now also in Lebanon,” she said.

“Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel ignited a spiral of violence which has brought the entire region to a state of extreme tension and volatility.”

In a year of fighting, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza but the Hamas-run health ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.

In a video posted on X, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz regretted that “so much suffering, so many deaths” had taken place on both sides of the conflict.

“With their disgusting attack on Israel, Hamas triggered a catastrophe for the Palestinian people. The Federal Government therefore continues to persistently advocate for a ceasefire, which must finally come about so that the civilian population in the Gaza Strip can be better protected and, of course, better cared for,” he said.

And in prayers at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, Pope Francis appealed to the Virgin Mary for help “in these times oppressed by injustice and devastated by wars.” 

“You who are the queen of peace, convert the minds of those who fuel hatred, silence the noise of weapons that generate death, extinguish the violence that smoulders in the heart of man and inspire peace projects in the actions of those who govern the Nations,” he said.

More reaction from Europe is expected throughout Monday.

Strikes on Gaza continue

On Sunday, the Israeli military announced a new air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, in northern Gaza, the site of a refugee camp dating back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation.

Israel reiterated its call, from the early weeks of the war, for the complete evacuation of northern Gaza.

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Up to 300,000 people are estimated to have remained in the heavily destroyed north while around a million fled to the south.

Those fresh orders have prompted thousands to flee the area, many leaving on foot, some using donkeys and carts.

“We did not do anything and they attacked us without warning, without notifying us of maps or anything else. They surprised us this time and we fled. We left with our families and children without anything, just some clothes,” said camp resident Moe’n Khader.

Palestinian authorities reported heavy Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday, with at least 19 people killed in an attack on a central mosque.

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Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have said they have put the country on high alert for potential attacks as they prepare to hold their own memorials for the victims of the 7 October Hamas attacks.

Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, is “concluding” his diplomatic mission, Russian agencies reported late on Saturday.

As rockets continue to rain down on Israel, Tuesday marked an unprecedented attack from Iran, which fired 181 ballistic missiles toward the country. For an hour, the entire nation took shelter; fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries, thanks to Israel’s air defense system. 

This system has been crucial in protecting Israeli civilians, intercepting thousands of missiles aimed at population centers. However, some missiles did land at several air force bases and near the Mossad headquarters, although they did not cause “significant damage,” according to the IDF chief of staff.

Israel’s air defense strategy extends beyond Iron Dome. Systems like David’s Sling and Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 provide defense against medium- and long-range missiles, and these systems have also been crucial in the current conflict. Israel Air Force Reserve Brig. Gen. Doron Gavish explains that the multi-layered defense structure was designed to handle a wide range of threats. “We’ve used David’s Sling to intercept rockets from Lebanon, and Arrow 3 to counter ballistic missiles from Iran. It’s not just Iron Dome – it’s a network of systems working together.” 

HEZBOLLAH’S NEIGHBORS: ISRAELI BORDER COMMUNITY UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK FROM TERROR GROUP

While the Iron Dome wasn’t extensively utilized against Iran, its operators have kept busy keeping Israel safe since the start of the war on Oct. 7 last year. 

“The Iron Dome has done incredible work, but, like any defensive system, the extended, high-intensity fighting has taken its toll on it – it wasn’t built for a conflict of this length and intensity,” Hilla Haddad Chmelnik, an aerospace engineer who played a key role in developing Iron Dome, and who acknowledges that the system is being tested in ways it was not originally designed for. 

Haddad Chmelnik, who also served as director-general of Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, emphasizes the need for ongoing innovation to keep up with evolving threats. 

And with Lebanon and Israel’s escalating fight with Hezbollah, the need for the system is greater than ever, she says. Just this last week alone, hundreds of rockets, missiles and UAVs were launched against Israel from Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Rockets fired by Palestinian terrorists from Gaza City are intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome defense missile system in the early hours of Oct. 8, 2023. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)

While Hamas’s rocket supply in Gaza has been largely depleted, the situation in Lebanon is very different. “In Gaza, we have significantly reduced the number of rockets left in Hamas’ arsenal. But in Lebanon, the numbers have not dropped enough,” she says. Hezbollah is believed to have perhaps 140,000 rockets, and they are much more sophisticated than those used by Hamas and can penetrate much deeper into Israel. 

And then there is the question of Iran, and the possibility of the war widening to include direct conflict with that country. “Compared to Lebanon, the threat from Iran is more manageable,” she says. Staging a large-scale missile attack from Iran is a complex undertaking, which can be detected and preemptively targeted,” Haddad Chmelnik says. “Launching a ballistic missile 1,500 kilometers requires preparation, and that’s visible. It’s very hard to hide from satellites, and that gives us the opportunity to strike preemptively, in addition to preparing to defend ourselves.”

Haddad Chmelnik emphasizes that Israel’s missile-defense systems, which were built in coordination with the U.S., are capable of withstanding Iranian attacks. “The Iranian missile threat can be countered, and our second-strike capability is very significant. Israel has the upper hand in that respect,” she says. “That’s why Iran is cautious – it has more to lose than to gain.”

IRAN WARNS OF ‘DECISIVE RESPONSE’ IF ISRAEL CROSSES ‘RED LINES’ 

Iron Dome was first deployed in 2011, following years of development in response to the growing threat of rocket fire from Gaza. (IDF Spokesman’s Unit.)

Iron Dome was first deployed in 2011, following years of development in response to the growing threat of rocket fire from Gaza. What sets the system apart, Haddad Chmelnik says, is its innovation and simplicity. “It’s a brilliant technology that no other country has. Iron Dome was developed with the support of the U.S., and now we’re seeing other nations buying it for their own defense.”

Indeed, the success of Iron Dome has attracted international attention. Countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Finland have purchased Iron Dome components or batteries. “Israel is the most protected country in the world when it comes to air defense,” Haddad Chmelnik explains. “Now, we are seeing countries across the globe investing in it.”

Israel Air Force Reserve Brig. Gen. Doron Gavish, former commander of Israel’s Air Defense Corps, recalls the initial skepticism surrounding the project. “Before Iron Dome, we had no real answer to these types of rockets,” he says. “People doubted we could create an effective, cost-efficient interceptor. But the system has proven itself over the years. Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets.”

An Israeli man works next to a destroyed home after rockets fired by Hezbollah terrorists struck in Katzrin, in the Golan Heights, Aug. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Each Iron Dome interceptor missile costs around $50,000, while some of the rockets it is designed to destroy, such as those made by Hamas, can cost just a few hundred dollars. The cost of maintaining one Iron Dome battery, which requires dozens of soldiers to operate, is about $100 million. Currently, there are approximately 12 Iron Dome batteries spread out across the country, each capable of defending up to 60 square miles, providing vital coverage in strategic areas.

WHAT IS ISRAEL’S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, THE IRON DOME?

Half of Iron Dome operators are women, who agree to extend their service to three years – the same as is mandatory for men – to accommodate the long period of training. “The experience these soldiers have gained under fire is invaluable. But the pressure is enormous,” Brig. Gen. Gavish says. “It’s not like a video game. You’re making real-time decisions on which rockets to intercept. These soldiers know they’re protecting their families, their cities – sometimes even their own homes.”

But the current conflict, which has seen more than 20,000 rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon since October 2023, has pushed the system, and its operators, to their limits. “When we designed Iron Dome, we never imagined it would have to function under such continuous strain,” Haddad Chmelnik says. “The system was built for short, intense bursts of fighting – not for a war that lasts nearly a year.”

Iran presents its first hypersonic ballistic missile  in Tehran on June 6, 2023. (Sepah News/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In recent months, some enemy rockets have slipped past the defenses, causing destruction in northern Israel. “No system is hermetic,” Gavish says. “There is no perfect defense. The reality is, the longer the war continues, the more pressure the system is put under.”

Meanwhile, the enemy is learning. “Every time Iron Dome successfully intercepts a rocket, our enemies are watching, learning and adapting,” Haddad Chmelnik says. “That’s why we see more complex threats emerging, like UAVs, and drones, which are harder to intercept.”

While Iron Dome remains effective, the future is uncertain. “The system is saving lives every day,” Brig. Gen. Gavish says. “But as the war goes on, it becomes harder and harder to maintain the same level of defense.”

A member of Israel’s Air Force technical corps stands by an Iron Dome battery.

Despite these successes, Haddad Chmelnik points out that no defense system is foolproof. “The way Iron Dome is built, it’s about more than just about identifying individual threats; it’s about adapting quickly as those threats evolve.” She emphasizes that while Iron Dome continues to play a crucial role, Israel’s long-term security will depend on continued technological advancements.

Despite the challenges they face in the current situation, those operating Iron Dome continue their mission. “The soldiers – men and women – are making complex decisions in real-time, protecting cities and families,” Brig. Gen. Gavish says, “They are the key to Iron Dome’s success.”