Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Israel Marks October 7 Anniversary as Gaza Strikes Continue
Israel held events to remember the Hamas attack that happened three years earlier, on October 7, 2023.
People gathered at the Nova music festival site and in Tel Aviv.
The attack killed 1,200 people and 251 people were taken to Gaza as hostages.
Israel carried out strikes in Gaza on the anniversary.
Palestinian reports gave different totals for people killed in those strikes.
Gaza health authorities also say many people have been killed since a ceasefire began in October 2025, though reports give different figures.
Many displaced people in Gaza are still living in tents or temporary shelters.
Israel and Hamas disagree about when Israeli troops should leave and whether Hamas must disarm first.
The anniversary came shortly before an Israeli election, as Netanyahu faced criticism over the security failure.
Israel marked three years since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack with memorial events, including a vigil at the Nova festival site and an event in Tel Aviv.
The attack killed 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken to Gaza; the remains of the last Israeli hostage were recovered in January.
Palestinian officials reported deaths in new Israeli strikes in Gaza, but reports differed: one said two people were killed and another said five.
Gaza health authorities said more than 1,430 or more than 1,460 Palestinians had been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire; the reports give different totals.
The anniversary came weeks before Israel’s election, amid criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and unresolved disagreements over Hamas disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawals.
- Who
- Israelis commemorating the October 7 attack; Hamas; the Israeli government; and Palestinians affected by strikes in Gaza.
- What
- Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas’s attack as new Israeli strikes were reported in Gaza.
- When
- Wednesday, October 7, three years after the 2023 attack.
- Where
- Memorials took place at the Nova festival site near the Gaza border and at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv; strikes were reported in Gaza.
- Why
- The memorials commemorated the October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Hamas and Palestinian positions
Israeli government positions
Disarmament and troop withdrawal
Hamas and Palestinian positions
Hamas says it has agreed to a phased process but will not disarm while Israeli attacks continue.
Israeli government positions
Israel says it will not withdraw its troops until Hamas fully disarms.
Responsibility for the security failure
Hamas and Palestinian positions
Families of people killed in the October 7 attack have joined calls for an independent investigation.
Israeli government positions
Netanyahu has rejected blame for the security breach and resisted calls for an independent investigation.
Gaza strike casualties
Hamas and Palestinian positions
Palestinian officials reported deaths from the strikes, while Gaza health authorities say Israeli attacks have killed many Palestinians since the ceasefire.
Israeli government positions
The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas operatives, including a person it identified as a Hamas sniper who also worked for Gaza’s civil defence agency.
- Anniversary
- Three years since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
- Attack toll and hostages
- The Reuters report says 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken to Gaza.
- Nova festival
- Reports say more than 300 people were killed at the festival; Reuters specifies 348 young people.
- Deaths in anniversary strikes
- Reports differed: Palestinian officials reported two deaths in one account and five in another.
- Deaths in Gaza since ceasefire
- Gaza health authorities reported more than 1,430 in one report and more than 1,460 in another since the October 2025 ceasefire.
- Israeli soldiers
- The Israeli military said five soldiers had been killed by militants or in combat since the ceasefire.
- Election timing
- The Reuters report said Israel’s general election was 20 days away.
