Mayor of London’s statement on one-year anniversary of 7 October terrorist attack on Israel

The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October was an appalling act of terrorism and my thoughts and prayers remain with all those affected. Today, we remember the victims whose lives were cruelly stolen and forever changed – the young partygoers who were gunned down as they danced, the Jewish families who were murdered in their homes, and the children of the kibbutzim who must have felt unimaginable fear in their final moments. We also show solidarity for the hostages who have endured so much and who must be released and reunited with their families immediately and without pre-conditions.

7 October also marks one year since the beginning of the latest chapter of this heartbreaking conflict. In that time, innocent Palestinians have been bombed, displaced and forced to endure the most shocking humanitarian crisis. Entire families have been wiped out and babies taken from their parents before they could even be named. In total, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the ongoing military campaign ordered by the Israeli Government, including hundreds in the West Bank and more than 11,000 children in Gaza alone. They are not mere statistics, but real people who had dreams, who were loved, and who leave behind grief-stricken friends and relatives.

Whatever perspective you approach this conflict from – whichever community you might instinctively find yourself identifying with – we cannot lose sight of the fact that this is an intolerable human tragedy. No child in Rafah should ever have their whole family ripped away from them by an airstrike, just as no child in Tel Aviv should ever have to shake with fear in a bomb shelter.

On this solemn anniversary, it’s incumbent upon all of us to recognise the excruciating pain and trauma that has been – and continues to be – inflicted on Israelis and Palestinians. We should look beyond those who insist we must choose a side and instead show compassion for all the human lives torn apart.

I know, like me, Jewish and Muslim Londoners – and Londoners of every religion and of no organised faith – have been left distressed and utterly heartbroken by the cycle of terror, bloodshed and suffering that has engulfed the region. Many of us have seen images, or read news reports, of the horrors on 7 October and in Palestine that will haunt us for the rest of our lives.

Now is the time for world leaders to intensify their efforts and take concrete action to secure an immediate and lasting ceasefire, as I’ve repeatedly called for since last October. For the sake of Palestinians and Israelis today – and for the sake of generations to come – more must be done to achieve peace and to deliver the two-state solution that is the only long-term guarantee of security and dignity for both peoples.

Understandably, the impact of this terrible violence continues to be felt acutely in London’s communities. And I know many Londoners with family and friends in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon will be deeply fearful about the safety of relatives and loved ones as the conflict continues to escalate across the region. But we cannot allow conflict overseas to divide us here at home.

In dark and difficult times, I’ve drawn hope from our city’s spirit of unity, from the Muslim and Jewish Londoners I’ve met who are seeking to build bridges between our communities, and from Londoners’ steadfast opposition to the evils of Islamophobia and antisemitism. Hate crime has no place in our city and those responsible for such acts will be pursued and made to feel the full force of the law.

London is a beacon for diversity, inclusion, mutual respect and understanding. We are a city that demonstrates peaceful co-existence is not only possible, but a source of enduring positives, progress and prosperity. In the days, weeks, and months to come I’d urge Londoners to model our highest values of empathy, sensitivity and humanity, and to come together and continue to be that glimmer of light that guides us all forwards.