Israelis on Wednesday marked three years since Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering a devastating war in Gaza that has left much of the territory in ruins and its population facing severe humanitarian hardship.
The attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage to Gaza, remains the deadliest day in Israel’s history. The subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, while causing widespread destruction and the displacement of much of the territory’s population.
The anniversary was marked with memorial events across Israel. Families and survivors gathered at sites including the Nova music festival near the Gaza border, where hundreds of people were killed during the attack. Memorial events also took place at Kfar Aza and other communities that were directly affected by the assault.
This year’s commemorations took place against a markedly different backdrop from previous anniversaries. It was the first October 7 anniversary since all of the hostages taken to Gaza have been returned, either alive or deceased. The remains of the final Israeli hostage were recovered earlier this year, bringing an end to the hostage crisis that had remained one of the defining issues of the war.
The anniversary also comes just 20 days before Israel’s first national election since the October 7 attack. The election, scheduled for October 27, has become closely linked to questions about the security failures surrounding the attack, the conduct of the subsequent war and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long tenure in office.
The October 7 attacks remain a central issue for Israeli voters, with many families of those killed and taken hostage continuing to demand answers over how the assault was able to take place despite warnings and intelligence available before the attack.
Netanyahu has rejected responsibility for the security failures and has resisted calls for an independent state commission of inquiry. His handling of the events before and after October 7 has become a major point of political debate, with critics arguing that the government must establish accountability for the failures that allowed the attack to happen.
The issue has also drawn many bereaved families and survivors into political campaigning. For some, the election is an opportunity to demand changes in leadership and a formal investigation into the events surrounding October 7.
A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 68% of Jewish Israelis considered the events of October 7 to be either a very central or fairly central factor in deciding which party to support.
Current election polling suggests that neither Netanyahu nor his principal political rivals would secure enough seats to form a governing coalition on their own if an election were held today, pointing to another potentially fragmented contest and difficult coalition negotiations.
The political debate comes as Israeli society continues to grapple with the psychological and social consequences of the attack. Three years on, survivors, families of victims and former hostages continue to deal with the effects of the assault and the prolonged war that followed.
The anniversary also comes almost a year after a US-backed ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, 2025. The agreement brought an end to the heaviest phase of fighting and facilitated the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, while also allowing humanitarian assistance into Gaza to increase.
However, the ceasefire has not brought a permanent end to the violence. Israeli military strikes have continued in Gaza, while negotiations over the next phase of the agreement remain deadlocked. The United Nations has called for the ceasefire to become permanent, for humanitarian assistance to be delivered at scale and for the parties to respect international law.
Israel continues to control a large portion of Gaza, while Hamas retains control over other areas. Much of Gaza’s population of around two million people remains displaced, with many living in tents or damaged buildings amid widespread destruction.
Israel currently controls roughly two-thirds of the territory, while Hamas retains control over much of the remaining area. More than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire, according to Gaza health authorities, while seven Israeli soldiers have been killed during the same period, according to the Israeli military.