In brief
The nation gathered on 7 October to mark the third anniversary of the Hamas‑led raid that claimed about 1,200 lives and left 251 hostages. Memorials at Dizengoff Square, Kibbutz Re’im and town cemeteries drew families, officials and protesters demanding a truth commission. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared the government would continue to hold perpetrators accountable, amid criticism that no independent inquiry has yet been launched. The Gaza Strip remains embroiled in war, with 74,200 claimed dead according to Hamas‑run health sources, while civilians face dire shortages. International leaders from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States joined Israeli commemorations, pledging support for lasting peace but acknowledging the conflict’s deep‑rooted scars.
Mourners gather on the third anniversary
The campaign of remembrance began early on 7 October, when families and citizens lifted flowers, flags and photographs at historic sites that were hit on 7 October. 1,200 people were killed in the coordinated raid that also left 251 hostages, and the memorials spanned from Dizengoff Square to small kibbutz cemeteries.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the crowds in Tel Aviv, saying that the nation would continue to “hold the perpetrators accountable” and forming a presidential candle in their memory. He rejected calls for an independent Supreme Court‑led inquiry, arguing that the judiciary would be biased against him.
The Gaza Strip remains a battlefield, with Hamas‑run health numbers stating more than 74,200 Palestinians have died so far. Despite a ceasefire agreed almost a year ago, daily shelling keeps civilians trapped in a war zone with severe shortages of food, water and medical supplies.
Memorials outside Israel showed the conflict’s wider impact: a vigil at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, a protest outside Downing Street and a speech by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that urged a new, steadfast resolve against antisemitism. US President Donald Trump voiced support for Israel, while the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen called for turning a fragile ceasefire into durable peace.
