Israel marks October 7 anniversary as Gaza war reshapes Middle East
Israelis gathered on Wednesday to commemorate the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people and sparked a devastating war in Gaza, while Palestinians marked another day of hardship in a territory reduced to rubble.
The October 7, 2023 attack, which saw 251 people taken hostage, triggered an Israeli military campaign that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced about 90 per cent of Gaza's population. A ceasefire has largely held since October 2025, but Israeli strikes continue almost daily.
For the region, the anniversary highlights a dramatic transformation. Israeli troops occupy parts of southern Lebanon, Iran and the United States are locked in a confrontation that has shaken global markets, and violence has risen across the West Bank.
Families mourn at the Nova Festival site
In Reim, where the music festival was underway during the attack, families gathered around photos of their killed relatives. They embraced at 6:29am, the exact time the first rockets were launched three years ago.
Anya Davitashili, who lost her 25-year-old son Sean, said she visits the site every Saturday because it is where she feels closest to him.
“I have a video of him dancing here that ends at 6:29 in the morning, it's in front of my eyes all the time,” she said.
Hundreds paid their respects to the more than 350 people killed in and around the festival site.
Released hostage marks his first anniversary in freedom
Elkana Bohbot, 37, is marking the anniversary in Israel for the first time after being released from 738 days of captivity. He was held 50 metres underground in a dark, damp tunnel, given very little food, and forced to take part in propaganda videos.
In August, his wife Rivka gave birth to a daughter, fulfilling a promise Bohbot made to himself in the tunnels to give his 5-year-old son Reem a sibling.
“This child is the message for you that we were here, and we will always be here forever,” Bohbot told The Associated Press.
Palestinians struggle to recover amid ongoing strikes
No events are expected in Gaza, where more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the territory's Health Ministry. The figures, which do not distinguish between civilians and militants, are seen as generally reliable by UN agencies.
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, 1,460 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, the ministry says. Seven Israeli soldiers have been killed in that period.
Most of Gaza's 2 million residents live in vast tent camps, with large parts of cities reduced to rubble. Restrictions on aid have contributed to a severe hunger crisis.
A radically altered Middle East
The anniversary comes amid a contentious election campaign in Israel. The government's official memorial services were held on October 5, closer to the Hebrew calendar's anniversary, reflecting deep divisions over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war.
The attack set in motion a cascade of events that led to wars across the Middle East. Israel has seized territory in Syria and Lebanon, where more than 300,000 Lebanese remain displaced. The United States joined Israel in attacking Iran's military and nuclear program, battering Iran and up-ending global markets.
Violence has also risen across the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where extremist settlers have attacked Palestinians and destroyed their property.
What does the October 7 anniversary mean for the region?
The anniversary underscores how the 2023 attack reshaped the Middle East, drawing in regional powers and altering security dynamics from the Mediterranean to the Gulf.
How many hostages remain in Gaza?
All hostages are now home, with the last releases occurring in 2025. This is the first anniversary since all were returned, marking a new stage of grief for Israeli families.
What is the current situation in Gaza?
A ceasefire has halted the heaviest fighting, but Israeli strikes continue targeting what it says are Hamas militants. About 90 per cent of Gaza's population remains displaced, and a severe hunger crisis persists due to restricted aid.