Israelis gathered in silence on Wednesday to mark three years since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks. In Kfar Aza, a kibbutz near the Gaza border that was overrun by Hamas militants three years ago, residents held a vigil for those killed in the attack. A trumpet played a solemn bugle call as residents stood in silence and a roll call of those killed was read out.
The October 7 attacks were the deadliest day in Israel's history, with militants led by Hamas killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. The attacks triggered Israel's military campaign in Gaza, where more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to figures cited by Reuters. The conflict remains unresolved despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025.
In Israel, protesters gathered outside parliament in Jerusalem to demand accountability for the security failures surrounding the October 7 attacks. Some protesters blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for resisting calls for an independent investigation into how Hamas was able to carry out the assault. Protester Shaked Arrad said the government needed to change and work for the public, not just themselves.
Netanyahu has rejected blame for the security breach and resisted calls for an independent inquiry. The anniversary comes 20 days before Israel's scheduled general election, with the war and the government's handling of the October 7 attack expected to remain major political issues. The conflict has also had a significant impact on the Gaza Strip, where Israel controls about two-thirds of the area.
In Gaza, Palestinians displaced by the conflict recalled their lives before the war as they continued to live among destroyed buildings and makeshift shelters. Umm Mohammad, a mother of five displaced from Gaza City and now living in a tent encampment in Deir Al-Balah, said the conflict had separated her family. She added that they rarely meet and recalled how happy they were before the war broke out.
The latest violence also continued despite the ceasefire, with Gaza medics reporting that Israeli strikes on Beit Lahia and Khan Younis killed at least two Palestinians and wounded others on Wednesday. The Israeli military said it had struck a militant target in Beit Lahia but did not immediately comment on the reported strike in Khan Younis.
Three years after the October 7 attacks, the anniversary has brought renewed mourning in Israel and Gaza, while questions over accountability, security and the future of the conflict remain unresolved. Zion Regev, a community leader in Kfar Aza, said many residents remained displaced and had yet to return to the community, making the anniversary a very emotional and difficult day.
Key points
- The October 7 attacks were the deadliest day in Israel's history, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
- The conflict remains unresolved despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025.
- The anniversary has brought renewed mourning in Israel and Gaza, with questions over accountability, security and the future of the conflict remaining unresolved.
