Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack with memorial events across the country on Wednesday, as heightened security surrounded the commemorations and voters prepared for an election in which the deadliest day in Israel’s history remains a central issue.
At 06:29 a.m., the exact time the Hamas attack began three years ago, a tribute was held at Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border, where militants killed 64 residents and abducted 18 people. Another event took place at the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel, where more than 370 people were killed and dozens seized as hostages. Bereaved families also organized a gathering in a Tel Aviv park on Wednesday evening. Israel’s defense minister placed the military on high alert on Tuesday, citing intelligence about Hamas’ intentions to attempt attacks against troops in Gaza on the anniversary .
The commemorations are the first since a ceasefire officially began in Gaza last year. Palestinian fighters breached the border on October 7, 2023, storming southern Israel with gunfire, rockets, and grenades, resulting in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also dragged 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of them already dead .
The anniversary coincides with a polarized election campaign, with opposition groups and a majority of Israelis demanding an independent state commission to investigate how the massacre occurred and how its aftermath was handled. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted such a probe, instead backing a politically appointed inquiry. The October Council, a bereaved families group, called the current approach “a shameful law designed to bury the truth, not uncover it” .
