Israel marked 1,000 days on Thursday since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the deadliest incident in its history that triggered a prolonged conflict in Gaza. Across the country, commemorations and protests were held, with calls intensifying for a state commission of inquiry into the attack and the government’s response.
The day’s events began at 6:29 a.m. local time — the exact moment Hamas launched its assault. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 Israelis and the abduction of 251 hostages by Hamas militants, according to official Israeli figures aggregated by AFP. In retaliation, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, which the territory’s health ministry, administered by Hamas, reports has left more than 73,000 Palestinians dead. These figures are broadly accepted by the United Nations. Since a ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2024, at least 1,059 Palestinians have died in Gaza, while Israel has lost five soldiers and one contractor during the same period. Israeli forces continue to control nearly 70 percent of the Gaza Strip.
Expressions of grief and frustration were evident across Israel. Jerusalem resident Dina Hertz said the ongoing impact of the attack remains deeply felt, emphasizing the lack of a formal inquiry or accountability measures. “We are still in the middle of it, and what could have been done to reach some kind of closure has not been done,” she said, calling for genuine investigation and responsibility from those leading the government at the time.
President Isaac Herzog met with families of victims and hostages, referring to the day as a “reminder of Israel’s capacity to grow out of crisis and unbearable pain: to remember, and never to forget.” The October Council, established by victims' families, played a central role in organizing Thursday’s events, including gatherings outside the Israeli parliament and near government officials’ residences.
The council publicly demanded the formation of a state commission of inquiry into the attack and its aftermath. In Tel Aviv, the “Hostages Square” plaza, a prior symbol of efforts to secure the captives’ release, was temporarily renamed “Memory Square.” A piano adorned with stickers honoring fallen soldiers and victims served as a poignant symbol during the memorial.
Eyal Eshel, who lost his soldier daughter on October 7, described the milestone as “a day of weeping, a day of rage, a day of anger and above all, a day of mourning.” He vowed to continue pushing for an official inquiry and government change, stating, “We will keep counting until a state commission of inquiry is established and until this government is no longer in power.”
Later in the evening, a memorial gathering was planned at Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, bringing together victims’ families and prominent figures from the protest movement critical of Israeli authorities’ handling of the events surrounding the attack and its aftermath.