October 7: Israelis mark three years since Hamas attacks

Three years to the day of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Israel commemorated the tragic event with memorials and protests across 400 locations. At 6:29 AM on October 7, 2023, Hamas-led gunmen invaded Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages being taken to Gaza. The anniversary commenced with a national moment of silence at the time of the assault.

Later, bereaved families and grassroots protest organizations organized a national minute of reflection, alongside hospitals, municipalities, universities, and businesses. Memorial activities were held at the Nova festival site in the Re’im Forest, where 370 individuals were killed and 44 abducted. Nationwide demonstrations were scheduled for the day.

One of the victims' daughters, Shir Mathias, called for a change in leadership, urging all citizens to remove their profile pictures and display the message “Everyone must go home.” On Wednesday evening, a national memorial ceremony was held in Tel Aviv, expected to attract tens of thousands. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a wreath at a memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl Cemetery, asserting that Israel has killed 4,000 out of the 6,000 militants who attacked on October 7.

Despite a stalled US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Netanyahu forecasted more conflict ahead, citing daily Israeli strikes in Gaza. Over 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began. While official ceremonies took place, most commemorative events were grassroots efforts led by survivors and victims' families, such as the October Council and the Kumu movement.

These groups persistently demand a state commission of inquiry to investigate national-level disasters, a request Netanyahu has consistently rejected. The anniversary precedes the October 27 election, in which accountability has become a prominent campaign issue. Opposition leaders have escalated their criticism, using the anniversary as a focal point, particularly following media reports alleging that Israel received preliminary warnings from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt before the attack.