Israel is marking the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, with memorial events across the country. The attack killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, triggering a devastating war that has left much of Gaza in ruins and its two million residents living in dire conditions.
Commemorations began with a minute of silence at 6:29 am, the time the attack started, organized by a group representing bereaved families. Families gathered at the Nova music festival site and other locations where the atrocities occurred, with a ceremony scheduled for tonight in Tel Aviv.
Despite a ceasefire deal reached nearly a year ago intended to halt the war for good, the region remains volatile. In the year since the ceasefire, 1,460 Palestinians and seven Israeli soldiers have died as Israeli strikes continue almost daily.
Heightened security surrounds the commemorations, with Israel's defense chief warning that Hamas and the Palestinian population in Gaza would pay a heavy price beyond all proportion if any Israeli armed forces were harmed. Meanwhile, voters are preparing for an upcoming election in which the deadliest day in Israel's history is expected to remain a central issue.