On October 7, 2023, Keith and Aviva Siegel were among 251 hostages taken by Hamas militants during an attack on the Kfar Aza kibbutz in southern Israel. As they were dragged into Gaza, the couple were startled by onlookers—Palestinian families, including elderly individuals and children—applauding their capture. Once friends with many Palestinians, the Siegels now describe their experience as a profound betrayal. Keith Siegel had learned Arabic to welcome Palestinian workers on their kibbutz, and Aviva recounted baking cookies for them in times of peace.

Aviva Siegel was held captive for 51 days, while her husband endured 484 days in captivity, suffering physical and sexual abuse as well as severe psychological trauma. Their ordeal, alongside those of other former hostages such as Ada Sagi—who had also worked to foster communication by teaching Arabic—has led to a deep-seated skepticism about the possibility of peace. Sagi, detained for eight months, said she no longer believes in peace with Hamas.

The attack and its aftermath have hardened Israeli public opinion toward Palestinians, complicating prospects for coexistence. In September 2025, Australia officially recognized Palestinian statehood, joining countries like the UK, France, and Canada in supporting a two-state solution. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described this outcome as the best hope to end a cycle of longstanding violence. However, many Israelis remain deeply distrustful, viewing the idea of peaceful coexistence as unrealistic or dangerous in light of the October 7 massacre.

Widespread fear persists, particularly in southern Israeli communities near Gaza. In Ashdod, about 40 minutes from the attack sites, residents report ongoing trauma. Rachel Vaknin, mother of eight, described her children’s lasting fear of renewed attacks and their distress upon encountering Arab Israelis.

Former Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskell has voiced a common perspective, asserting that Palestinians seek the annihilation of the Jewish people rather than statehood. Author and security analyst Jonathan Spyer said the events of October 7 marked a “new reality” for Israelis, creating a consensus across the political spectrum that Israel must maintain security control over the territories between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. Spyer noted that withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, which preceded the militant build-up that led to the massacre, has fueled a sense of betrayal and insecurity.

Polls taken near the third anniversary of the attack paint a somber picture of Israeli attitudes. A Gallup poll in early October 2026 found that 65 percent of Israelis oppose a two-state solution, while a Pew Research Center survey in September indicated only 17 percent believe peaceful coexistence with Palestinians is achievable.

Ahead of the October 27 national election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed the vote as a choice between “The Right Wing or Palestine,” emphasizing security concerns and opposition to a Palestinian state. His Likud party campaign slogan, “Yamin o Palestin,” conveys this dichotomy. Netanyahu’s primary challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, has advocated for improved relations with Palestinians and proposed reinstating revoked work permits. However, many Israelis view this approach skeptically, fearing it could enable another attack.

Tel Aviv University historian Uzi Rabi dismissed the two-state solution as an ineffective slogan, arguing that the post-October 7 security arrangements—where Israel controls most of Gaza and a buffer zone in Lebanon—reflect realities the Israeli public now demands to protect its citizens from threats.

Lynda Ben-Menashe, president of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, noted a hardening atmosphere in Israel since the attack, particularly regarding attitudes toward Palestinian workers within the country. She described the October 7 events as having shattered much of the earlier idealism about coexistence, a shift that is difficult for many outside Israel to comprehend.

Haskell, who left Netanyahu’s government this year to form the Israel First party, compared the national trauma from the attacks to Australia’s reaction to the Bondi massacre, underscoring the profound impact the events continue to have on Israeli society.