Israelis gathered across the country on Wednesday to commemorate the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, while Palestinians in Gaza continued to confront the devastating consequences of three years of war.
The attacks, the deadliest in Israel’s history, killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and left much of the territory in ruins.
Families of victims assembled at memorial sites, bomb shelters and communities attacked by Hamas militants three years ago. This year’s anniversary marked the first time that all hostages had returned home, allowing families and survivors to commemorate the tragedy under different circumstances.
At the Nova music festival memorial site near Reim in southern Israel, relatives gathered at 6:29 a.m., marking the moment the first rockets were launched on October 7, 2023.
More than 350 people were killed in and around the festival site. Families embraced, visited photographs of loved ones and observed moments of silence as explosions from nearby Gaza could still be heard.
In Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where dozens of residents were killed and 19 people were abducted, community members held a memorial ceremony honouring the victims.
Local community leader Zion Regev said many residents remain displaced and have not returned to their homes, underscoring the lasting impact of the attacks.
Former hostage Elkana Bohbot, 37, also marked the anniversary after spending 738 days in captivity. Abducted from the Nova festival, Bohbot described being held in underground tunnels with limited food and inadequate living conditions.
Since his release, he has undergone rehabilitation, written a book and reunited with his family. The birth of his daughter in August represented a significant milestone following his captivity.
Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza continued to face severe humanitarian conditions, with approximately 90 per cent of the population having been displaced during the conflict, often multiple times.
Large sections of Gaza’s cities have been destroyed, leaving many of the territory’s roughly two million residents living in overcrowded temporary shelters with limited access to essential services.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The ministry’s figures do not distinguish between civilians and militants, although United Nations agencies and independent experts generally consider its casualty reporting reliable.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, 2025, Israeli military strikes have continued.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that 1,460 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, while seven Israeli soldiers have also died during that period.
Israel maintains that its continuing operations target Hamas militants.
Residents of Gaza described widespread destruction, displacement and the collapse of essential infrastructure, including schools, universities and residential neighbourhoods.
Restrictions on humanitarian supplies and commercial goods have also contributed to severe food shortages across the territory.
The anniversary comes amid significant political tensions in Israel, where a national election is scheduled for later this month.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to face criticism over his government’s handling of the October 7 attacks and its reluctance to establish an official inquiry into the security failures that preceded them.
Official government commemorations were held on October 5, corresponding more closely with the anniversary under the Hebrew calendar.
Beyond Israel and Gaza, the conflict has reshaped the broader Middle East.
Israel’s military confrontations with Hezbollah have extended into Lebanon, where more than 300,000 people remain displaced. Israeli forces also occupy territory in southern Lebanon and parts of Syria.
Meanwhile, military confrontations involving Israel, Iran and the United States have intensified regional instability and disrupted international markets.
Violence has also increased in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians have raised further concerns.
Three years after the October 7 attacks, the anniversary remains a moment of profound grief for Israelis mourning those killed and abducted, while Palestinians continue to endure the consequences of a conflict that has devastated Gaza and transformed the region.
