THREE YEARS AFTER OCTOBER 7, ISRAEL MARKS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AS THE GAZA WAR’S LEGACY REMAINS UNRESOLVED

October 7, 2026

JERUSALEM, OCTOBER 7: Israel on Wednesday marked three years since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, with memorial events honouring those killed and remembering the hostages taken during the assault that triggered the devastating war in Gaza.

The attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 hostages being taken to Gaza. A large number of victims were killed at the Nova music festival, where 348 people died during the assault. The attack became the deadliest day in Israel's history and fundamentally reshaped the country's security and political landscape.

Three years later, the anniversary is being observed without Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza. The remains of the last Israeli hostage were recovered in January, following a series of hostage and prisoner exchanges carried out during ceasefire arrangements.

The subsequent Israeli military campaign caused enormous destruction across Gaza. Gaza health authorities say more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, while much of the territory remains devastated and millions of civilians continue to face severe humanitarian challenges.

A US-backed ceasefire reached in October 2025 halted the major phase of the war but has not resolved the central disputes surrounding Gaza's future. Israeli forces continue to control a large portion of the territory, while disagreements over Hamas's disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawals, reconstruction and future governance remain unresolved.

The anniversary therefore comes at a moment when Israel is remembering the trauma of October 7 while the wider conflict remains politically and humanitarianly unsettled. With an Israeli general election approaching later this month, the events of October 7 and the government's handling of the crisis continue to occupy a central place in the country's political debate.