Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7…

Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack

08.10.2026 13:25 HotInfo

On Wednesday, Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. Commemorative events were held throughout the day in honor of the victims of the bloodiest attack Hamas has ever carried out in Israel. BBC News ↗

Families and loved ones of the victims honored the memory of their relatives at several locations. Commemorative events were also held at the site of the Nova festival, where, three years after the attack, memorial stelae dedicated to those murdered have now been added. For survivors, remembrance remains painful, and at the same time, doubts persist in the country over whether the current relative calm will last much longer. Die Zeit ↗

The Hamas attack also struck the town of Zikim, which militants attacked from the sea on October 7, 2023. Eighteen people died there. However, the attackers' attempt to break into a nearby kibbutz failed. Tagesschau ↗

The anniversary also had a political dimension. The memory of the attack is influencing the campaign ahead of Israel's parliamentary elections. Alongside grief, part of the public is also expressing disappointment over the conduct of their own authorities and the way they responded to the attack. The events were also commemorated by Jewish communities abroad, including in Austria, where government representatives spoke out against antisemitism. France24 ↗

For Israel, October 7 remains a long-lasting trauma. The commemorative events also showed that the consequences of the attack continue to shape public debate, politics, and perceptions of security in the country. Tagesschau ↗