Fabien Roussel, the presidential candidate for France's Communist Party, criticized the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, calling it "practicing state terrorism." He also condemned the "barbaric act of terrorism" carried out by the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7, 2023. Roussel stated that "there is another terrorism at play, it is the state terrorism of an Israeli far-right government, that of Mr. Netanyahu," and said he had "thoughts" for the victims of the October 7 attack, insisting that "terrorism must be condemned without any hesitation." He rejected both Hamas and Netanyahu, stating, "I put the Israeli government of Mr. Netanyahu and the terrorist group Hamas side by side. They are mirror images damaging their peoples and creating conditions for there to be no peace in this region of the world." He expressed regret that "the voices of Israeli and Palestinian peace advocates are not heard because there are extremist forces facing each other and sowing hatred." Israel marked the anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7, which was described as the deadliest day in the country's history. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, including 51 French citizens, and saw 251 people kidnapped and taken to Gaza, including 44 bodies. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza, which has led to more than 74,200 deaths, according to the health ministry of the Palestinian territory, which is currently under the control of Hamas. These figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated dramatically since the October 7 attack, with both sides accusing each other of terrorism and launching military operations. International reactions have varied, with some countries condemning Hamas's actions while calling for restraint from Israel. The situation has raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where many civilians are caught in the crossfire. Efforts to mediate the conflict have been complicated by the deepening hostility between the two sides. Peace advocates from both Israeli and Palestinian communities have struggled to gain attention amid the ongoing violence. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with calls for a ceasefire and a return to diplomatic negotiations to address the underlying issues fueling the conflict.