Israel on Wednesday marked the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack with memorial ceremonies and tributes, as Israeli strikes continued in Gaza and political debate intensified ahead of the country’s upcoming national election.
Families of victims gathered at locations including the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel, where hundreds of people were killed during the attack. Memorial events were also held at Kfar Aza and other communities affected by the assault.
The October 7 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities and international reporting. It triggered Israel’s subsequent military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
This year’s anniversary is the first since all Israeli hostages have either been released or their remains recovered. The development has changed the nature of the commemorations, with families mourning those killed while survivors and former hostages continue to recount their experiences.
The anniversary is being observed despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025 and halted the most intense phase of the war.
Israeli forces have continued carrying out strikes in Gaza. Gaza health officials reported that at least two Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Tuesday, while the Israeli military said the operations targeted militants.
Reuters reported that Israel still controls a large part of Gaza, while negotiations over the next phase of the ceasefire remain difficult. Key unresolved issues include Hamas’ disarmament, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and plans for Gaza’s reconstruction.
The humanitarian situation also remains severe. More than 1.2 million people in Gaza are facing acute hunger, according to figures cited by Reuters, while reconstruction needs are estimated at tens of billions of dollars.
The anniversary also comes just weeks before Israel’s October 27 national election, the first parliamentary election since the Hamas attack.
The events of October 7 and the government’s handling of the security failures surrounding the attack have become central issues in the campaign. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls to accept personal responsibility for the failures and has opposed an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Netanyahu and his political opponents have increasingly placed the October 7 events at the centre of their campaign messages, with competing arguments over security, responsibility and the direction of the country after three years of war.
The election is scheduled for October 27, with Netanyahu seeking another term while facing several opposition challengers. U.S. President Donald Trump has also declined to publicly endorse Netanyahu’s re-election bid.
For many Israelis, however, the anniversary remains primarily a day of remembrance. Across the country, families and communities are reflecting on the lives lost on October 7, 2023, while the continuing conflict in Gaza underscores how profoundly the attack has reshaped Israel and the wider Middle East.
Three years on, the anniversary therefore carries both a deeply personal meaning for victims’ families and a wider political significance as Israel prepares to vote on its future direction.