Memorial site at the Nova music festival grounds near Kibbutz Re'im, Israel

Israel Marks 3rd Anniversary of October 7 Attacks

October 7, 2026

Israel marked three years since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Wednesday with memorials, moments of silence, and protest events at more than 400 locations across the country, in what is the first anniversary observed with no hostages still held in Gaza. Families returned to the site of the Nova music festival near Re’im, where hundreds were killed, while a national memorial ceremony was scheduled for the evening in Tel Aviv. The somber day arrives just weeks before an Israeli election widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership.

What happened on the third anniversary of October 7?

At 6:29 a.m. — three years to the minute after the first rockets were launched — Israelis observed a national moment of silence. At noon, bereaved families and grassroots protest groups held a national minute of reflection, joined by hospitals, municipalities, universities, and businesses.

Memorial gatherings took place at the Nova festival site in Re’im Forest, where more than 350 people were murdered and 44 abducted during the attack, and at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, where a commemoration event honored the victims and the hostages.

How many people were killed on October 7, 2023?

Hamas-led gunmen stormed Israeli communities along the Gaza border and the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages to Gaza — the deadliest single day in Israel’s history. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza killed more than 74,000 people, according to health authorities there.

This year’s anniversary is the first since all hostages, living and dead, were returned from Gaza. The remains of the last Israeli hostage were recovered in January, ending years of anguished waiting for families.

What is happening at the evening ceremony in Tel Aviv?

A national memorial ceremony is set for Wednesday evening in Tel Aviv, with tens of thousands expected to attend. The event is organized by the “Kumu” movement (“Rise Up” in Hebrew), which represents October 7 survivors and victims’ families, and will be hosted by former hostage Eli Sharabi and actress Shani Cohen.

Protest convoys and displays ran throughout the day, as grief mixed with anger over the government’s handling of the disaster and the hostage crisis.

Why is the anniversary politically significant?

The anniversary comes just 20 days before Israel’s first election since the attack — a vote widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long tenure. Netanyahu has rejected blame for the security breach and resisted calls for an independent investigation, frustrating many Israelis, including families of those killed.

A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 68% of Jewish Israelis said the events of October 7 were a very central or fairly central element in deciding which party to vote for. Election polling shows neither Netanyahu nor his main competitors would muster enough seats to form a coalition if the vote were held today.

How are Americans marking the anniversary?

Commemorations extended beyond Israel. In Beverly Hills, a “Moment of Remembrance” was held at Rexford Mini Park, and the city is developing a permanent Oct. 7 memorial outside the Beverly Hills Public Library, across from the city’s 9/11 memorial. StandWithUs and partner organizations planned “United in Memory & Resilience,” a citywide memorial at the Saban Theatre featuring Nova festival survivors Rom El-Hai and Lee Sasi, former hostage Maya Regev, and author Noa Tishby.

In Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach Synagogue hosted an anniversary event featuring Nova survivor Chen Almog and singer Matisyahu.

What happens next?

The Gaza ceasefire, now about a year old, is meant to halt the war for good — though conditions in Gaza remain dire. With the evening ceremony still ahead and the election three weeks away, the anniversary is both a day of mourning and a pivot point: the political fallout of October 7 will now play out at the ballot box.

Frequently asked questions

When was the October 7 attack?
October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli communities near Gaza and the Nova music festival.

How many hostages were taken on October 7?
251 people were taken hostage to Gaza; all living and deceased hostages have since been returned, with the last remains recovered in January.

What is Hostage Square?
A plaza in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art that became the central gathering point for hostage families and their supporters after the attack.

When is Israel’s next election?
The first Israeli election since the October 7 attack is scheduled 20 days after the third anniversary — a vote widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.