The new Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, has welcomed the alliance members' efforts to establish a ceasefire on the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. Rutte wrote about this on X.

He joined a number of Western politicians and officials in connection with the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.

"One year on from October 7, my thoughts are with the people of Israel, with the families of the victims and hostages taken by Hamas. I welcome efforts by Allies to bring about a ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and an end to the conflict," the NATO chief wrote.