Israelis are marking three years since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage, an assault that triggered the devastating war in Gaza.
Memorial events are being held across Israel on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, including at locations connected to the attack. This year’s anniversary is the first since all Israeli hostages and their remains were returned from Gaza.
The attack remains one of the darkest days in Israel’s history. Hamas-led fighters crossed from Gaza into southern Israel, attacking communities and the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im.
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According to Israeli authorities and international reporting, about 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were abducted during the assault.
Three years later, families of those killed are still mourning, while survivors and former hostages continue to deal with the physical and psychological consequences of the attack.
All Hostages Have Now Returned
The anniversary comes after the final remaining Israeli hostages and their remains were returned under the Gaza ceasefire arrangement that began in October 2025.
The United Nations has described the return of all remaining Israeli hostages and their remains as one of the most significant developments since the ceasefire began. However, the ceasefire has not brought an end to violence in Gaza.
Among those now back in Israel is Elkana Bohbot, who was abducted from the Nova music festival.
Bohbot spent 738 days in captivity before his release, according to reports. He has since spoken about his experience and begun rebuilding his life after more than two years in captivity.
The return of the hostages has changed the nature of this year’s anniversary. Previous commemorations were held while families were still waiting for loved ones to come home.
Gaza Faces the Aftermath of Three Years of War
For Palestinians, October 7 also marks the beginning of a war that has caused enormous loss of life and destruction across Gaza.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which operates under the territory’s de facto authorities, has reported more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began. The ministry’s figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The World Health Organization reported that, by the end of 2025, Gaza’s local health authorities had recorded 71,271 deaths and more than 171,000 injuries since October 2023.
The humanitarian situation remains severe.
The United Nations says most of Gaza’s population remains displaced, while large areas of the territory remain inaccessible or subject to severe restrictions. Around two-thirds of Gaza was still affected by access restrictions in September, according to a UN report.
The latest UN humanitarian report also said Gaza’s Health Ministry had recorded 1,431 Palestinian deaths and 5,026 injuries since the October 2025 ceasefire was announced.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes, shelling, drone attacks and ground operations have continued, according to the United Nations. Israel says its military operations are aimed at addressing threats from Hamas and other armed groups.
Ceasefire Has Not Resolved the Conflict
The ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025 significantly reduced the scale of fighting and facilitated the release of the remaining hostages.
However, major disagreements remain over the future of Gaza.
Israel continues to maintain military control over large parts of the territory and has demanded the disarmament of Hamas as a condition for a full withdrawal.
Hamas has resisted the demand, while negotiations over the next stage of the ceasefire and Gaza’s reconstruction have remained difficult.
Reuters reported on October 6 that Israel still controlled about two-thirds of Gaza and that more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed since the ceasefire began. The report also said reconstruction remained largely stalled because of disagreements over Hamas’s disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal.
The United Nations has similarly warned that the ceasefire has not ended violence or resolved the humanitarian crisis.
October 7 Remains a Political Issue in Israel
The third anniversary is also taking place against the backdrop of political tension in Israel.
Israel is preparing for an election later this month, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing criticism over the security failures surrounding the October 7 attack and his government’s handling of the war.
Netanyahu’s critics have demanded an official investigation into how Hamas was able to carry out the attack despite Israel’s extensive military and intelligence capabilities.
The issue has become an important part of the political debate as Israelis consider the government’s record since October 7.
The anniversary has therefore become more than a day of remembrance. It is also a moment of national reflection over the failures that preceded the attack, the enormous human cost of the war and the unresolved question of what comes next.
Three Years Later, No Clear End to the Conflict
Three years after Hamas’s October 7 assault, the consequences continue to extend far beyond the original attack.
Israel has suffered the loss of about 1,200 people in the assault and the prolonged trauma of the hostage crisis.
Gaza has experienced tens of thousands of deaths, mass displacement and widespread destruction.
Although the return of all hostages and the reduction in large-scale fighting have provided some relief, the political and security issues that drove the conflict remain unresolved.
For Israelis gathering to remember those killed on October 7, the day remains a painful national tragedy.
For Palestinians in Gaza, it is remembered as the beginning of a war that has transformed the territory and left much of its population displaced and struggling to survive.
Three years on, the anniversary is therefore marked by mourning on both sides, while the search for a lasting political settlement remains unfinished.
Added Source: ITV
Culled by Lawrence Abiona
