Israel marks three years since October 7 attack with memorials and protests

Israel Observes Third Anniversary of October 7 With Mourning, Demonstrations and Calls for Accountability

Earthguardiansonline.com – Israel paused Tuesday to remember the October 7, 2023 attack, three years after Hamas-led militants crossed from Gaza and carried out the deadliest day in the country’s history. Ceremonies, vigils and protests were planned at more than 400 sites, reflecting both collective grief and an unresolved national debate over responsibility for the failures surrounding the attack.

At 6:29 a.m., the precise time the assault began three years earlier, the country observed a national moment of silence. Hamas-led gunmen attacked communities near the Gaza border, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. The victims included children, women, older people and entire families.

A second nationwide minute of reflection was scheduled for noon. Bereaved families and grassroots civic groups called for participation from hospitals, municipalities, universities and private businesses, extending the commemoration beyond official government events.

Memorials at Sites of Loss

One of the day’s most significant memorial gatherings was expected at the Nova music festival location in the Re’im Forest. More than 370 people were killed there during the attack, while 44 others were abducted. Elsewhere, protest convoys and public displays were planned throughout the day, joining remembrance with demands for political change.

On Wednesday night, tens of thousands of people were expected at a national memorial in Tel Aviv organized by the Kumu movement, whose name translates from Hebrew as “Rise Up.” The group represents survivors of the attack and families of those killed. Former hostage Eli Sharabi and actor Shani Cohen were set to host the gathering.

Official state memorial events took place Monday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the memories of the attack remained deeply embedded in the country’s consciousness despite the passage of time.

“Even three years after the outbreak of the war — when the State of Israel is stronger than ever — the terrible hours of the Simchat Torah attack remain seared within us,” Netanyahu said.

The assault occurred during Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday. In remarks to a cabinet meeting the following day, Netanyahu also pointed toward continued military action despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that had stalled a year earlier.

“We will reach all of them,” he said, after stating that Israel had killed “4,000 out of 6,000” militants who entered Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have continued on a near-daily basis. More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the territory has said.

Grassroots Events Carry a Political Message

While state institutions held their own ceremonies, much of Wednesday’s activity was organized independently by survivors and relatives of victims. The October Council and Kumu movement have both made a state commission of inquiry a central demand. Under Israeli law, such a commission is the strongest formal investigative body available for examining national disasters and the decisions that preceded them.

Netanyahu has resisted calls for a state commission throughout the past three years and has not named another special inquiry focused on the breakdowns of October 7. For many participants in the anniversary events, remembrance has therefore become closely tied to the question of whether the country will fully investigate what happened.

Shir Mathias, whose parents Shachar and Shlomi Mathias were killed at Kibbutz Holit near the Gaza border, urged Israelis to seek a change in leadership. In a message posted before the anniversary, she called on those responsible to leave public office.

“Just before we enter October 7, I have one message,” Mathias wrote. “Everyone who had their hand on the wheel, those in uniforms and suits alike — must go home. I call on all citizens of Israel, change your profile picture to the most self-evident message: ‘Everyone must go home.’”

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan Zangauker was released from captivity, has become one of the government’s most prominent critics. Her anniversary message focused on the continuing burden carried by victims’ families and former hostages.

“Three years since the day that changed my life and our lives as a people. Three years of loss and pain. Three years of a basic demand for accountability. For those we lost, for those who returned and whose lives were changed forever, and for a country that deserves hope and repair,” Zangauker wrote.

Anniversary Arrives in the Middle of an Election Campaign

The anniversary comes less than three weeks before Israel’s October 27 election, making accountability for October 7 a major campaign issue. Netanyahu’s opponents have intensified criticism of his government, particularly following media reports alleging that Israel received preliminary warnings from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt before the attack.

Gadi Eisenkot, who is polling as Netanyahu’s leading challenger, has argued that the prime minister’s opposition to a state commission reflects an effort to avoid scrutiny. Eisenkot’s criticism also carries personal weight: his son was killed in Gaza during the war.

“This is a very deep failure,” Eisenkot said, accusing Netanyahu of avoiding a state commission of inquiry. “Netanyahu knows better than anyone why he is running from the truth, why he wants to bury the truth.”

For families gathered at memorials, the anniversary is not only a date on the calendar. It marks the continuing effects of a morning that reshaped Israeli society, while also highlighting questions that remain unanswered about warning signs, decision-making and the country’s path forward.