Three Years After Oct. 7: Israel Mourns as Gaza Remains in Ruins

Israelis across the country commemorated the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Wednesday. Memorials were held at the Nova music festival site, where over 350 people were killed, as well as at bomb shelters and communities targeted that day. In Tel Aviv, thousands gathered for a main ceremony organized by bereaved families, separate from official government events. The plaza known as Hostage Square, once filled with protest encampments and "Bring Them Home" signs, now bears only a tunnel replica, a few yellow ribbons, and a sign reading "Remember 7.10.23."

The October 7 assault killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 hostages taken to Gaza. Of those, 166 were later released alive, while the remains of the last deceased captives were returned in January. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and displaced most of the enclave's 2.2 million residents. Large parts of Gaza remain in ruins, with over half the territory still under Israeli military control.

“The trauma persists.”

Despite a ceasefire deal reached nearly a year ago, Israeli strikes continue almost daily in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli troops occupy a significant portion of southern Lebanon amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. Regional tensions have escalated into direct confrontation between Israel and Iran, involving missile and drone attacks that have shaken the global economy.

Surveys indicate the trauma remains a central political force in Israel. A Channel 12 poll in June found 74% of respondents fear another large-scale attack, and 66% want a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures. An Israel Democracy Institute survey last month showed 68% of Jewish Israelis and 32% of Arab Israelis cite the attack as a central factor in their voting decisions, ranking behind only security and the cost of living.

At the Nova festival site, survivors' relatives embraced at 6:29 a.m., the exact moment the first rockets were launched three years ago. Anya Davitashvili, who lost her 25-year-old son Sean, said she visits the site every Saturday. In a café near Hostage Square, Tel Aviv resident Isaac Badra recalled sheltering neighbors during the rocket barrages, noting his building lacks a bomb shelter. "The trauma persists," he said.