On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants launched a coordinated raid that left roughly 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Three years later, families, survivors, and officials gathered at sites of the tragedy to remember the victims and reflect on the war that followed.

Commemoration across the country

At the Nova dance festival near Kibbutz Re’im, a memorial marked the 378 people killed in the attack. Survivors such as Ahuva Yavin Mayze described the scene as "dystopic, unimaginable," while former footballer Shlomo Sharf paid tribute to his granddaughter, May Naim, also a victim. In the kibbutz of Kfar Aza, where 64 residents were slain and 19 taken hostage, community leader Zion Regev noted that many survivors have yet to return home because of lingering trauma.

In Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, Ido Yakir addressed the crowd, saying Israel would remember those who "gave their lives to save others." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking from the national memorial, lit a candle for every victim and declared, "We will complete the mission: we have settled the score and will continue settling the score with all the murderers."

Protesters in Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Square dyed the fountain red to symbolize blood, displayed banners blaming the government for a "complete failure," and briefly blocked a major highway for a moment of silence.

Political fallout and calls for inquiry

Netanyahu faced renewed pressure from demonstrators demanding an independent state inquiry into the security lapses that allowed the Oct. 7 raid. While senior defence officials have resigned or been dismissed, no formal commission led by Israel’s Supreme Court has been established. Netanyahu has rejected personal responsibility, arguing that the judiciary would be biased against him.

Critics such as Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan was released from captivity, warned that attempts to forget the events would only deepen public mistrust. "They're trying to make us forget what happened on 7 October," she told Army Radio, pledging to demand the truth.

International reactions

Memorials were also organized abroad. In Berlin, the Jewish students' union held a vigil at the Brandenburg Gate, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the Hamas assault a "profound rupture." The UK’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed solidarity with Britain’s Jewish community, while a vigil outside Downing Street honored British‑Israeli victims.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the "unspeakable savagery" and reaffirmed the EU’s readiness to support a durable peace based on a two‑state solution. In the United States, former President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Netanyahu and wished the Israeli people well.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis

Following the Oct. 7 attack, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza that, according to the Hamas‑run health ministry, has killed more than 74,200 people. The United Nations regards those figures as reliable. Despite a ceasefire agreed almost a year ago, violence persists, and living conditions for the 2.1 million residents of Gaza remain dire.

UN estimates indicate that about 80 % of Gaza’s structures have been destroyed or damaged, leaving over 60 million tonnes of rubble and 1.2 million people living in tents or shelters. Displaced Palestinians such as Mohammed Emad al‑Din, a barber from Gaza City, have been forced to relocate multiple times, fearing further displacement.

Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by Israel, the UK, and others, released a statement praising the Oct. 7 attack as a "historic milestone" in its "ongoing struggle project," framing it as a "natural response" to what it described as "bitter suffering" imposed by Israel.

Looking ahead

As Israel marks three years since the deadliest day in its modern history, the nation grapples with grief, political division, and the unresolved conflict in Gaza. The commemorations underscore both the personal loss endured by families and the broader debate over accountability and the path toward lasting peace.