U.N. leaders still searching for peace one year after terrorist attacks in Israel

NEW YORK (Gray Media) - Monday marked the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel that left thousands dead and hundreds held hostage. October 7 was one of the darkest days in Israel’s history and a moment that put the Middle East on the brink of all-out war.

Over the last year negotiators and leaders at the United Nations have been calling for peace. U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, an alternate representative to the UN, says it is hard to imagine a more difficult moment than right now to achieve that peace.

“We were all just trying to figure out what was going on. It was just a very, very difficult moment,” said Wood, recalling the moments following reports of the Hamas attacks.

Inside the UN, most member nations condemned Israel’s response in the wake of the attacks. Israel’s military operations against Hamas left thousands of civilians dead and the Gaza strip leveled. For months, the U.S. backed its ally, refusing to call for a ceasefire

“In the beginning it was very clear that Israel and we still believe this has a right to defend itself,” said Wood.

But the humanitarian crisis worsened and the Biden administration eventually called for a ceasefire - one that would see hostages released, including American citizens, and peace for Gaza and the region.

“We saw that this the kind of humanitarian catastrophe that was taking place was neither in Israel’s interests nor in the interests of the United States,” said Wood.

Negotiations on the ground stalled throughout the year with Israeli hostages killed, leaders from Hamas, Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah assassinated, and Israel invading Lebanon. The escalating tensions brought even further to the brink after Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in late September.

“It’s hard to be…optimistic. But I think you have to be. There has to be some focus on hope for going forward. We’re very concerned about a much wider regional war that’s in no one’s interest,” said Wood.

For months the Biden administration has been calling for de-escalation from all sides while negotiators search for a finish line. That search continues this October 7 with tensions in the region at their highest point in the last year.

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