European Commission Vice President and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas decried Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre as a barbaric act of terror and expressed her solidarity with Israel on Wednesday.
“The 7 October attacks were a barbaric act of terror. Today, we stand with Israel in remembering every life taken and destroyed at the hands of the Hamas terrorists,” Kallas said in a post on X/Twitter on the three-year anniversary of the massacre.
“Hamas brought unspeakable suffering to the Israeli people and left devastation in its wake,” she added, urging Hamas to disarm and allow for peace efforts in Gaza to proceed.
The 7 October attacks were a barbaric act of terror. Today, we stand with Israel in remembering every life taken and destroyed at the hands of the Hamas terrorists. Our thoughts are with the victims, the survivors, their families and all those who continue to carry the pain of that terrible day. We must firmly reject any form of antisemitism across Europe. Jewish communities must be able to live openly, safely and without fear. Hamas brought unspeakable suffering to the Israeli people and left devastation in its wake. Hamas must disarm so that the Gaza Peace Plan to move forward.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) October 7, 2026
“Our thoughts are with the victims, the survivors, their families and all those who continue to carry the pain of that terrible day.”
Kallas continues to call for Europe to reject all forms of antisemitism and ensure that Jewish communities can live safely and without fear.
UK vows to combat post-Oct. 7 rise in antisemitism
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham similarly denounced the attack and noted the impact it has had on his country’s Jewish community.
“I want Britain’s Jewish community to hear this from me directly. We stand with you. Abuse and violence against you, in any form, will not be tolerated,” he stated. “Not on our streets, not online, not in our schools or universities.”
Burnham also vowed to advocate for a two-state solution on the international stage.
Ed Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary, released a video statement extending his condolences to those whose loved ones were killed in the massacre.
Miliband asserted that the British government “stands emphatically against Hamas and their murderous antisemitic ideology and against all those who would seek the destruction of Israel and its people,” describing October 7 as “the most appalling atrocities against the Israeli people.”
Three years ago, Hamas terrorists carried out the worst attack on Israel in its history, murdering 1,200 innocent people. I offer my deep condolences to those who lost loved ones. I send my solidarity to the people of Israel on the anniversary of this terrible act. https://t.co/2ynhm2FvlX
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) October 7, 2026
“We will continue to do everything in our power to fight terrorism and hatred and to further the pursuit of peace,” he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron similarly shared his condolences and vowed not to forget the more than 1,200 victims of the attacks, including the 51 French nationals who were killed by Hamas.
“Three years since we share the grief of the State of Israel and the bereaved families. Three years later, we do not forget the names or the faces: those of Maya, Ohad, Valentin, and so many others,” Macron lamented.
He asserted that his country remains committed to fighting antisemitism and terrorism in pursuit of peace.
October 7 a ‘profound turning point’
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the massacre as a profound turning point, sharing his condolences in a social media post.
“We mourn the victims and share in their pain,” Merz said. “We must confront antisemitism with even greater determination. Jewish people should be able to live here without fear.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried Hamas’s targeting of civilians during the attack and the terrorist organization’s taking of hostages as unjustifiable atrocities in a statement on the anniversary.
Three years ago, on 7 October 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched an abhorrent, large-scale terror attack on Israel, brutally killing more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals. Civilians were deliberately targeted and murdered in their homes, in their communities and at a music festival. A total of 251 people were abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip as hostages, including women, children and the elderly. Their captors subjected the hostages to horrific abuse in captivity, including torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and sexual violence. Some were killed by their captors or during the ensuing hostilities. Nothing can justify these atrocities. Three years on, the pain of 7 October endures for the families who lost loved ones, for survivors and for all those whose lives were forever changed. I have met with Israeli families whose worlds were shattered that day and listened to survivors who continue to carry deep physical and emotional scars. I have heard from former hostages about the unthinkable torment they and other captives endured as they were held in Gaza in deplorable conditions and the anguish and uncertainty suffered by their families throughout their captivity. I am profoundly relieved for all those who have regained their freedom and been reunited with their loved ones. I mourn those who were killed in the attacks and those who died in captivity. Their suffering, and the enduring grief of their families, must never be forgotten. These horrors must never be repeated. The devastating hostilities that followed have inflicted untold suffering on Palestinians in Gaza, including massive loss of life, displacement, and destruction. Civilians continue to endure intolerable conditions. Their suffering, too, demands an end, now. Last year’s ceasefire brought some relief. But it has yet to deliver security, adequate humanitarian assistance or a credible path to recovery and peace. I urge all parties to implement their commitments in full and advance to the next phase of the ceasefire, on the basis of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. It is time for the ceasefire to become permanent. It is time to allow humanitarian assistance at scale. And it is time to respect international law. We must build the political path to lasting peace across the whole region. The @UN remains unwavering in its commitment to these imperatives. Let this anniversary mark not only another year of mourning, but also a renewed determination to build a different future: one in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security, with their rights, dignity, and aspirations fulfilled.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 5, 2026
“Three years on, the pain of 7 October endures for the families who lost loved ones, for survivors and for all those whose lives were forever changed… I mourn those who were killed in the attacks and those who died in captivity,” he said, asserting that their suffering must not be forgotten.
Guterres also urged that the Gaza peace plan be implemented and called for a political path to regional peace to be built.
