Israel marks 7 October attack three years on
Families and relatives of victims gathered as the attack and the war continue to reverberate politically.
Follow-up to: Israel warns of attacks around 7 October Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 18:40
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Israel on Wednesday commemorated the attack of 7 October 2023 with gatherings at several locations, including the site of the Nova festival and in Jerusalem. The official state commemoration had already been held on Monday; the earlier warning of possible attacks around the anniversary concerned a threat assessment, not a specific announced attack.
At sunrise, families, relatives of victims and former hostages gathered to commemorate those killed in the attack. President Isaac Herzog opened the commemoration in Jerusalem with a ceremony at the presidential residence. Silent gatherings were also held along roads and at sites associated with the attack.
The commemoration coincides with a new phase in Israel’s public debate. According to The Associated Press, this is the first anniversary since all the hostages returned from Gaza, alive or dead. That has changed an important symbol of the attack, but questions about the security failures before 7 October have not disappeared.
The government held the official state ceremony on 5 October, closer to the date of the attack according to the Hebrew calendar. Wednesday’s gatherings therefore had a different character: less a national state occasion and more a day on which families, communities and survivors shared their own memories.
The attack was carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. According to the United Nations, more than 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed. The attack led to the war in Gaza, which according to the UN has had major humanitarian consequences for Palestinian civilians.
The commemoration is also taking place in the run-up to Israel’s first elections since the outbreak of the war. Responsibility for the security failures, the military strategy and the treatment of the hostages’ families are among the issues shaping the political debate. The commemorations themselves offer no new insight into that responsibility; political and legal discussions about it are still ongoing.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Israel commemorated the attack of 7 October 2023 on 7 October.
- The official state commemoration was held on 5 October.
- The attack led to the war in Gaza and major humanitarian consequences for Palestinian civilians.
- The commemoration coincides with an election year.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that commemoration cannot be separated from Palestinian suffering and that Israeli governments also bear responsibility for their military choices.
Values Equal human dignity, international law and the protection of civilians.
Consequences Fears that focusing exclusively on Israeli victimhood will push the war and the humanitarian consequences in Gaza out of view.
Centre
Arguments Wants to make room for both Israeli trauma and Palestinian victims, and calls for independent accountability for the attack and the subsequent policy.
Values Institutional responsibility, fact-finding and the protection of civilians.
Consequences Expects a balanced commemoration to remain difficult as long as security and war debates dominate the political agenda.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that the attack on Israeli civilians was the starting point of the war and that security and the fight against Hamas must come first.
Values National security, deterrence and the protection of the country’s own population.
Consequences Fears that criticism during the commemoration will underestimate the threat to Israel or obscure Hamas’s responsibility.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The core facts have been confirmed by Israeli government information, the UN and AP. Political interpretations are presented as context rather than established facts.
- confirmed Israel held commemorative gatherings on 7 October 2026 for the attack of 7 October 2023. — Described by AP and the Israeli government. source
- confirmed The official state commemoration took place on 5 October. — AP reports that the official ceremony was held on 5 October. source
- confirmed More than 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed in the attack. — The UN Secretary-General cites this figure in his statement. source
Editor's note
The commemorations, the state ceremony on 5 October and the UN’s assessment have been confirmed. The precise political consequences of the anniversary remain uncertain.Sources
- Israelis mourn Oct. 7 attack as Palestinians in Gaza live in ruins of war sparked by the assault — The Associated Press
- President Herzog marks the third anniversary of October 7th — Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken van Israël
- Secretary-General's Message marking three years since the attacks of 7 October 2023 — Verenigde Naties
The story so far
- Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 18:40 Israel warns of attacks around 7 October
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 12:42 Israel marks 7 October attack three years on (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „israël 7 oktober”
- RTL Nieuws — „israël 7 oktober”
- NOS — „israël 7 oktober”