U.S. authorities warned of "concerns about terrorism and hate crimes on the first anniversary of the Gaza War."

Source: Yonhap News

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a terror and hate crime warning on the 4th local time to mark the first year of a surprise attack on Israel by Palestinian militant Hamas.

The FBI and DHS said the seven-day anniversary of the attack that sparked the Gaza war would mark a year and that the escalating war could motivate extremists and hate crime perpetrators to join violence or threaten public safety.

It also warned that large public gatherings such as Jews, Muslims, synagogues and mosques, as well as memorials, vigil events and other legal protests, could be targeted by attacks or threats.

He also pointed out that the first year of Hamas' attack on Israel could be used as an opportunity for attacks or high-profile illegal activities.

The FBI and DHS have predicted that foreign terrorist groups (FTOs) and other violent extremists will likely continue to exploit the Middle East conflict, urging individuals to use violence alone in the United States.

Hamas' surprise attack on October 7 last year killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, took 250 hostages, and killed many hostages.

Shortly after the attack, a war between the two sides in the Palestinian Gaza Strip killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry.

Israel, which has largely neutralized Hamas, has recently expanded its front lines to Lebanon's pro-Iranian militant Hezbollah, continuing large-scale airstrikes and ground battles.