Israel celebrated the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, on Wednesday, and memorial services took place in Israel and Gaza as the conflict between the state and Hamas continued to play out. Families of victims gathered to remember those killed in the attack and Israeli strikes on Gaza and increased security took place on the anniversary.
This October 7 attack killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 251 hostages, according to Israeli and international reports. The attack triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in extensive destruction and a humanitarian crisis. Gaza health authorities say more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.
One of the main commemorations was at the Nova music festival in southern Israel where hundreds of people were killed in the attack. Families and mourners put up photos of those who died and observed a moment of silence at 6:29 a.m., when the attack began. It’s one of the most renowned sites and still a spot for relatives and visitors to remember the victims.
This year’s anniversary is also significant as it is the first since the October 7 attack in which no Israeli hostages remain in Gaza. The remaining hostages (including those who died in captivity) have been returned in exchanges and the remains of the last Israeli hostage were recovered earlier this year.
The development has changed the focus of commemorations, with families now remembering those lost while reflecting on the long time when relatives remained captive.
On the anniversary, security has been a major concern. Israeli forces were on high alert as such attacks were predicted. The anniversary also coincides with Israel’s general election and is a political event in which a huge debate was waged over security and the October 7 failures and the government’s response to the subsequent war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed state memorial ceremonies and said Hamas would not rule Gaza. His government is also unwilling to abandon the future of the territory and will not just leave Hamas behind and has said Israeli security concerns must be addressed before a withdrawal of troops.
At the same time, the situation in Gaza remains very difficult. A US-brokered ceasefire that started in October 2025 halted the most intense phase of the fighting and helped facilitate hostage and prisoner releases, but Israeli military activity has continued.
Gaza health authorities say more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. Israel says its strikes target Hamas militants and that Hamas is attempting to launch attacks and rearm. Hamas has rejected those accusations.
The ceasefire has also not solved many key questions about Gaza’s future. Hamas’ disarmament, the extent and timing of an Israeli military withdrawal, the future governance and reconstruction of the territory remain issues. Reuters reported that Israel now has control over around two-thirds of Gaza, while most of the population remains concentrated in a much smaller area, many living in tents or damaged buildings.
Humanitarian conditions remain a major concern. Aid deliveries have increased since the most grueling days of war, but humanitarian agencies say supplies are limited. More than 1.2 million people in Gaza are still suffering from hunger as a result of the destruction, according to figures cited by Reuters.
Reconstruction is also slow and the damage has left the territory with huge financial and logistical hurdles.
The anniversary has also brought international remembrance. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously remembered the October 7 victims (51 French people killed in the attack) as part of France’s stance on terrorism and antisemitism and support for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.
French government statements have also emphasized the importance of remembering victims of the attacks and of finding a political solution.
So the third anniversary in Israel is very much a day of mourning for the victims of October 7, a day of mourning for the hostages and their families, and a reflection on the deep-seated political changes that have taken place. In Gaza, however, the anniversary marks millions displaced while infrastructure is destroyed and the political future is not well-defined.
Three years after the attack, the memories of October 7 are still foundational to Israeli society and the effects of the conflict still reverberate across Gaza and throughout the whole region. With ceasefire arrangements still fragile and negotiations on the future of Gaza far from a resolution, the anniversary shows how deeply the events of October 7 still influence the Middle East.
