Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack with silent tributes, new strikes on Gaza, and intense political debate. At the Nova music festival site in Reim, southern Israel, family members bowed their heads in silence, while others played techno music in tribute to the fallen. The attack, which occurred on 7 October 2023, resulted in 1,221 deaths and 251 hostages being dragged into Gaza.
The commemorations were marked by loud bangs from across the border in Gaza as Israel carried out new strikes, despite a ceasefire officially in place for the past year. Gaza officials reported at least two people killed in overnight strikes in the territory, which has been largely reduced to rubble in relentless bombing in retaliation for the attack. The Israeli military offensive has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza and killed more than 74,200 people.
At the Nova site, family members shared their personal stories of loss. Katia Zohar, whose daughter Bar Zohar was killed at age 23, remembered the moment she received calls from her daughter during the attack. Anna Davitashvili, 53, paid tribute to her eldest son Shaun, who was killed at 25, by playing the last track of techno music that the partygoers were dancing to when the attack began.
The attack has had a profound impact on the Israeli psyche, with many questioning the government's ability to protect its borders. The Israeli government has vowed to never allow Hamas to rule in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating there would be "no forgiveness for the murderers". The elections on 27 October will be the first since the attack, with polls showing a tight race for Prime Minister.
The centre-left Democrats Party put online footage of the attack, with leader Yair Golan stating that a government that has not destroyed Hamas's rule is a government "dangerous to Israel". Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, seeking to oust Netanyahu, described the attack as a "colossal failure of the state of Israel".
The 7 October attack delivered a deep shock to Israel, which has prided itself on protecting its borders despite long odds. The attack saw Palestinian fighters breach the border, storming southern Israel with gunfire, rockets, and grenades. A total of 1,221 people died, and 251 hostages were dragged into Gaza, 44 of them already dead.
The last live hostages were freed a year ago as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal in which Hamas stopped firing into Israel. Israeli attacks have subsided but not stopped, with Netanyahu vowing to kill anyone involved in the attack. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, with nearly the entire population of Gaza displaced and over 74,200 people killed.
Key points
- Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack with silent tributes and new strikes on Gaza.
- The attack resulted in 1,221 deaths and 251 hostages being dragged into Gaza.
- Israel's military offensive has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza and killed more than 74,200 people.
