Israel is marking the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks with memorial events across the country as the Gaza war continues under a fragile ceasefire. The commemorations are taking place weeks before Israel’s general election, with the deadliest day in the country’s history expected to remain a major political issue.
A tribute is scheduled at Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border at 6:29 am local time, the moment the attack began three years ago. Militants killed 64 residents and abducted 18 people there during the assault. Another memorial is planned at the site of the Nova music festival, where more than 370 people were killed and dozens taken hostage, while bereaved families are expected to gather in a Tel Aviv park.
The October 7 attack began when Palestinian militants breached the Gaza border and launched assaults using gunfire, rockets and grenades. According to figures based on official Israeli data, 1,221 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken to Gaza, including 44 who were already dead. Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive that has devastated much of Gaza and killed more than 74,200 people, according to the territory’s health ministry.
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The anniversary is being observed under heightened security, with Israel’s defence minister placing the military on high alert over intelligence suggesting Hamas could attempt attacks against Israeli forces in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at state memorial ceremonies that there would be no Hamas rule in Gaza and vowed to continue targeting those involved in the October 7 attack or the holding of hostages.
The war has also expanded beyond Gaza, with Israel confronting Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran during the three-year conflict. In Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains severe despite a US-brokered ceasefire declared last October, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still living in tents and temporary shelters. Israel says it controls more than 60 per cent of the Gaza Strip and has continued military operations against what it describes as threats from Hamas.
French President Emmanuel Macron also marked the anniversary, saying France continued to share the grief of Israel and families who lost loved ones. Macron said more than 1,200 people, including 51 French nationals, were killed in the attacks and reaffirmed France’s commitment to combating antisemitism and terrorism. The anniversary comes as the ceasefire remains fragile, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting that more than 1,430 people have been killed in Israeli military actions since the truce began.
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