Actor Madhura Naik reflects on her family's experience with Hamas terrorists, stating, "Hate breeds enmity."

New Delhi [India], October 8: Television actor Madhura Naik commemorated the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel by sharing her family's traumatic encounter with terrorists, describing it as "the darkest day."

Naik, who is of Indian-Jewish descent, revealed that she lost her first cousin and brother-in-law in crossfire in Sderot during the attacks last year.

Speaking at an event organized by the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi, Naik stated, "We follow Judaism but have also embraced Hindu traditions, demonstrating that Jews have always been open to cross-cultural exchanges and have adapted well to new environments. My grandmother was the 14th child, and 13 of her siblings returned to Israel in the 1970s, where they thrived in their homeland alongside their fellow Jews. It was more than just a sense of belonging; it was home for them. Unfortunately, on October 7, it became the darkest day for my family."

She recounted the tragedy: "They were victims of October 7. I lost my first cousin and her husband in crossfire in Sderot, Israel. They were brutally murdered in front of their two daughters, ages six and three. The six-year-old, just before being rescued by the Israeli police, said, 'Are you the Israeli police? Please save the kid next to me.'"

Naik emphasized that hatred breeds terrorism, which transcends religion, race, and gender. 

"Imagine a six-year-old witnessing the murder of her mother and father while still being aware that she needed to save the three-year-old next to her. They were rescued by the Israeli police amid a brutal crossfire that lasted several hours. An Israeli policeman was severely injured during this rescue. The children were soaked in their parents' blood. This incident shattered my family. There are things we can never change and cannot replace. During the crossfire, an Arab Muslim man attempted to save my sister and the children, but tragically, he was killed as well, despite his religion and identity. Their terror recognizes no religion, race, gender, or age," Naik reflected on the anguish her family endured.

She noted that her family now lives in constant fear of losing their lives, and her family feels immense pressure to protect them. "From what I have observed in this year of struggle and conflict, hatred breeds hatred. Hate breeds enmity. Hate breeds terrorism. We must do everything in our power to eradicate terrorism once and for all. Enough of this terror and enough wars," she asserted.

Naik, a Jewish woman of Indian descent living in Israel, is a professional television actor. Her cousin and brother-in-law were murdered by armed Hamas terrorists during the chaos that ensued in southern Israel following the October 7 attacks.

At the same event, Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, stated, "One year ago, October 7 shook our being. It took hours to comprehend the horrific atrocities happening on our southern border. Israel will prevail. We will defeat our enemies. We will work diligently to learn from our mistakes and bring back hostages."

The conflict in Gaza escalated following the October 7 attack by Hamas, where around 2,500 terrorists crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in casualties and hostage-taking.

Israel has characterized its military operations in Gaza as aimed at dismantling Hamas' infrastructure while striving to minimize civilian casualties.

According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 35,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in this war. The conflict has recently escalated, with Houthi rebels in Yemen also targeting Israel and other nations in the Red Sea.