Israel observed the third anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 with solemn ceremonies across the country, as the nation prepares for parliamentary elections on October 27. The assault, which targeted southern Israel three years ago, resulted in more than 1,200 deaths and the capture of approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. It remains the deadliest single day for the Jewish population since the Holocaust and set off a series of ongoing conflicts that have impacted the wider Middle East.
On the morning of the anniversary, activists in Tel Aviv displayed white silhouettes on a beach to represent victims and temporarily stopped traffic at the time the attack began, reflecting the enduring national trauma. Dahlia Scheindlin, a pollster and political analyst, noted that the sense of loss remains vivid, with new details still emerging from families of the victims.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in office when the attack occurred, lit a memorial candle and reaffirmed his commitment to confronting those responsible. Netanyahu has framed the subsequent military operations—including a Gaza offensive that has resulted in over 74,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities—as part of a broader “war of redemption” addressing threats not only from Gaza but also from Lebanon, Iran, and other fronts. He pledged to continue these efforts if re-elected.
The anniversary also highlights political tensions as Netanyahu faces criticism over his handling of the attack. Opponents charge that he ignored intelligence warnings and maintained a failed policy of containment toward Hamas, contributing to the surprise and scale of the assault. Netanyahu and his supporters counter that he has been a steadfast defender of Israel amid existential threats and has reshaped Middle Eastern dynamics.
Netanyahu’s main challenger, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, visited communities in southern Israel struck hard by the attack, including a shelter where civilians sought refuge during the assault. Both sides acknowledged the magnitude of the state’s failure to anticipate or prevent the attack.
Despite the dismissal or resignation of all security officials responsible at the time, Netanyahu has resisted calls for an independent state commission to examine the circumstances leading up to the assault. Columnist Ben Caspit argued in a recent piece that if Israel truly faced annihilation on October 7, the responsibility lies with Netanyahu, who has emphasized the country’s precarious situation that day.
With less than three weeks before the elections, opinion polls suggest a closely contested race, with Netanyahu’s far-right coalition slightly behind the opposition but gaining ground. A recent survey indicated that 68 percent of Israelis consider the events of October 7 influential on their voting decisions, underscoring the incident’s enduring impact on the national political landscape.