Leaders from world wide on Tuesday issued statements marking two years for the reason that October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, which sparked the continued warfare in Gaza.
Whereas most leaders’ statements sharply condemned Hamas, the brutal violence of the onslaught and the rise in international antisemitism within the two years since, a number of outstanding politicians used the anniversary of the assaults to slam Israel and criticize its conduct within the subsequent warfare.
Early Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the 2 years for the reason that assaults have been a “dwelling nightmare” for a lot of.
“At present we mark two years for the reason that horrifying assaults on Israel by Hamas terrorists on October seventh, 2023…. The worst assault on the Jewish individuals for the reason that Holocaust,” Starmer stated in an announcement.
“Since that terrible day, so many have endured a dwelling nightmare,” he stated, vowing to proceed efforts to carry house British hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Starmer famous the interval has seen surging antisemitism within the UK, days after two Jewish males have been killed in a terror assault towards a Manchester synagogue.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his spouse Victoria discuss to a member of the native Jewish neighborhood as they go to the scene of the phobia assault exterior Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, on October 3, 2025. (Phil Noble/Pool/AFP)
“Jewish communities have additionally endured rising antisemitism on our streets,” he stated, together with the lethal car-ramming and stabbing assault final Thursday in Manchester, which came about on Yom Kippur, the holiest day within the Jewish calendar.
“This can be a stain on who we’re, and this nation will all the time stand tall and united towards those that want hurt and hatred upon Jewish communities,” stated the British chief.
‘We don’t overlook’
French President Emmanuel Macron took to social media to mark the anniversary of the Hamas-led assaults, with an announcement he shared in French, English, and Hebrew: “October 7. Two years after the unspeakable horror of the Hamas terrorism, the ache stays uncooked,” he wrote. “We don’t overlook.”
“We consider all of the victims, together with 51 of our compatriots,” he continued. We consider the 48 hostages nonetheless held by Hamas. We work tirelessly for his or her return.”
October 7.
Two years after the unspeakable horror of Hamas terrorism, the ache stays deep.
We don’t overlook.
We stand in solidarity with all of the victims, together with 51 of our fellow residents.
We additionally consider the 48 hostages nonetheless held by Hamas.…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 7, 2025
“I reiterate France’s name: the hostages have to be freed and the ceasefire should happen at once,” Macron stated.
“We share the grief of the bereaved households in addition to the anguish of those that are nonetheless ready,” he added. “Such an abomination must not ever occur once more. Allow us to unite all our forces to battle antisemitism in every single place and construct peace.”
In a video assertion, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the assaults “inflicted deep wounds,” and October 7 has “gone down as a black day within the historical past of the Jewish individuals.”
“Hamas attacked Israel in a barbaric method,” he stated. “Properly over a thousand residents of Israel misplaced their lives.”
“The terrorists kidnapped 250 individuals as hostages,” he continued, including that they included some German nationals. “They’ve suffered unimaginably.”
Antisemitism in Germany is shameful. Now and all the time.
Let’s stand with the Jewish individuals of our nation — at present, on the two-year mark of Hamas’s brutal assault on Israel, and on each different day. pic.twitter.com/biQWbzwcFn
— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) October 7, 2025
Merz additionally stated that within the two years for the reason that assaults, “we’ve seen a brand new wave of antisemitism in Germany.”
“This fills me with disgrace as Federal Chancellor, as a German, and as a member of the post-war technology that grew up with the promise: By no means Once more,” he stated.
“Let’s stand with the Jewish individuals of our nation,” he stated. “At present, on the two-year mark of Hamas’ brutal assault on Israel, and on each different day.”
EU Fee President Ursula Von Der Leyen additionally paid tribute to the victims of the October 7 bloodbath and expressed hope for an enduring peace within the area.
“We are going to always remember the horror of the Hamas assaults on 7 October and the ache they induced to harmless victims, their households and all the individuals of Israel, two years in the past,” she stated in an announcement.
“We honor their reminiscence by working tirelessly for peace. The instant launch of all hostages and a ceasefire at the moment are inside attain… This second have to be seized to pave the way in which for an enduring peace within the area, based mostly on the two-state resolution,” she stated.
Israeli response to Oct. 7 ‘past any precept of proportionality’
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated: “Two years have handed for the reason that ignominy of the bloodbath carried out by Hamas terrorists towards 1000’s of defenseless and harmless Israeli civilians, together with girls and kids. Unspeakable crimes that make October 7 one of many darkest pages in historical past.”
“Hamas’s violence has triggered an unprecedented disaster within the Center East. Israel’s navy response has gone past any precept of proportionality, claiming too many harmless lives amongst Gaza’s civilian inhabitants,” she added.
“All of us have an obligation to do all the things inside our energy to make sure that this valuable and fragile alternative — the peace plan introduced by [US] President [Donald] Trump — succeeds,” she wrote.
At present we pause to honor the victims of terror. We stand firmly towards hatred and violence. As talks advance underneath @POTUS plan, we urge all events to behave with braveness and restraint: towards an enduring ceasefire, launch of all hostages and a way forward for peace and safety for all.
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) October 7, 2025
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on X: “At present we pause to honor the victims of terror. We stand firmly towards hatred and violence. As talks advance underneath the @POTUS plan, we urge all events to behave with braveness and restraint: towards an enduring ceasefire, launch of all hostages and a way forward for peace and safety for all.”
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson lamented that since October 7, “Jews in Sweden have testified that they really feel unsafe in their very own nation.”
“My message is: There is no such thing as a place for antisemitism in Sweden,” he wrote.
“Jews in Sweden ought to be capable to proudly put on the Star of David, go to the synagogue, and go away their kids in Jewish colleges. All Swedish Jews ought to know that we stand behind you.”
Rubio and Vance condemn assaults, specific hope for peace
Additionally marking the two-year anniversary of the assaults on Israel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sayid Washington “reaffirms its unwavering help for Israel’s proper to exist, to defend itself, and to make sure the protection of its individuals.”
“As the USA marks this tragic anniversary and honors the victims, we renew our resolve to forestall such evil from ever happening once more,” Rubio stated.
The highest US diplomat highlighted the 2 US residents — Omer Neutra and Itay Chen — who’re among the many 48 hostages nonetheless being held in Gaza and touted US President Donald Trump’s plan to finish the warfare in Gaza and advance “generational” peace within the area.
“Since October 7, 2023, we’ve additionally witnessed a troubling surge in antisemitism threatening Jewish communities worldwide,” Rubio famous.
“As I’ve stated, there might be no compromise with antisemitism. We proceed to sentence all acts of terrorism and antisemitism towards Israel, and we name on the worldwide neighborhood to face with Israel throughout this painful anniversary,” he added.
On this second anniversary of the horrible terrorist assaults of October 7, we keep in mind all the harmless individuals brutally murdered by Hamas. And we proceed to work in direction of President Trump’s plan to carry the remaining hostages house and construct an enduring peace for all.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 7, 2025
“On this second anniversary of the horrible terrorist assaults of October 7, we keep in mind all the harmless individuals brutally murdered by Hamas,” US Vice President JD Vance tweeted.
“And we proceed to work in direction of President [Donald] Trump’s plan to carry the remaining hostages house and construct an enduring peace for all,” he stated.
Whereas Trump himself didn’t launch an announcement in regards to the anniversary of October 7, he advised hostage households that he’s praying Gaza warfare will finish quickly “or else,” in a letter printed Tuesday, which thanked the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board for nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Because the October 7, 2023, bloodbath, Trump stated he has “been resolved to returning all of the hostages house, and making certain the whole destruction of Hamas so these horrific acts could by no means be repeated.”
“These unspeakable scenes have been seared into our recollections, and we are going to always remember,” he added.
“Please know that we stay steadfastly dedicated to seeing an finish each to this battle and the waves of antisemitism, each at house and overseas,” the letter learn.
He continued: “Could god bless you and your family members, and should He proceed to bless the USA of America and the State of Israel, as we pray that this battle shall be at an finish within the coming days — or else.”
????????????????️סקופ: הנשיא טראמפ שיגר היום מכתב לפורום משפחות החטופים ובו הדגיש כי הוא ״נחוש״ להחזיר את החטופים ולסיים את המלחמה בעזה בימים הקרובים pic.twitter.com/rfRwtxx0yK
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) October 7, 2025
Mamdani and Spanish PM condemn Israel
The Democratic Social gathering’s New York Metropolis mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani used the second anniversary of the October 7 assaults to accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of launching a “genocidal warfare.”
Mamdani referred to as Hamas’s October 7 assault “a horrific warfare crime,” including, “I mourn these lives and pray for the protected return of each hostage nonetheless held and for each household whose lives have been torn aside by these atrocities.”
“Within the aftermath of that day, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli authorities launched a genocidal warfare: a loss of life toll that now far exceeds 67,000; with the Israeli navy bombing houses, hospitals, and colleges into rubble,” his assertion learn, utilizing the unverified loss of life toll offered by the Hamas-run well being ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Mamdani referred to as for the “occupation and apartheid” to finish, including that, “Peace have to be pursued by way of diplomacy, not warfare crimes, and our authorities should act to finish these atrocities and maintain these accountable to account.”
My assertion on the 2 12 months anniversary of October 7, 2023. pic.twitter.com/JlsXUeAeYd
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) October 7, 2025
Additionally utilizing the anniversary as a chance to slam Israel, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned “terrorism in all its kinds” in his assertion, and urged an finish to “the genocide” in Gaza.
Sanchez, one of the crucial vocal critics in Europe of Israel’s warfare in Gaza, decried the “horrible assaults” carried out by Hamas.
“It’s a day to reiterate our robust condemnation of terrorism in all its kinds, to name for the instant launch of the Israeli hostages,” the Spanish chief wrote on X.
“And to demand that Netanyahu cease the genocide of the Palestinian individuals and open a humanitarian hall,” he added.
Sanchez additionally declared that the two-state resolution was the “solely attainable” method to finish the decades-old Israel-Palestinian battle.