Israel marks third anniversary of October 7 attacks with tributes, Gaza strikes and political debate

People carry Israeli flags through an installation marking the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, on the beachfront in Tel Aviv, October 7, 2026. ODED BALILTY / AP PHOTO Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Wednesday with silent tributes, new strikes on Gaza and intense political debate, weeks before elections in which the country's deadliest day will be front and center. At the site of the Nova music festival , where Hamas militants in trucks and paragliders opened fire around dawn on October 7, 2023, family members bowed their heads in silence, although at least one instead put on techno music in tribute to the fallen. Both at Nova and the Kfar Aza kibbutz, another site of mass killings three years earlier, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporters heard loud bangs from across the border in Gaza during the commemorations as Israel carried out new strikes, despite a ceasefire officially in place for the past year. Gaza officials said at least two people were killed in overnight strikes in the territory, most of which has been reduced to rubble in relentless bombing in retaliation for the worst attack ever against Israel. Read more Subscribers only Israel, three years after October 7: A nation's traumas and blind spots Election battle On October 27, Israel will hold elections for the first time since the attack, with polls showing a tight race for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who in three years has ordered the massive offensive in Gaza and fought wars against Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as Iran, whose cleric-run government backs Hamas. At the Nova site, Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister seeking to oust Netanyahu, told reporters of the attack: "This was a colossal failure of the state of Israel, which was established to defend Jews in our land." The center-left Democrats Party put online footage of the attack, without commentary. "A government that for three years has not destroyed Hamas's rule is a government dangerous to Israel," Democrats leader Yair Golan said. Netanyahu marked October 7 with official ceremonies in Jerusalem on Monday, which was closer to the anniversary on the Jewish calendar. He said there would be "no forgiveness for the murderers" and vowed never to allow rule in Gaza by Hamas, which has faced major losses but remains in control of part of the territory. Read more Subscribers only Three years after October 7, the unending trauma of a former Israeli hostage held by Hamas for 505 days Hamas, while battered, remained defiant on the anniversary, issuing a statement calling October 7 "a glorious day of our people's history." The group said it had "smashed the myth of the invincible army" and called the attack "a natural response to, and culmination of, decades of bitter suffering," including the blockade of Gaza that Israel has imposed since the Islamist movement seized the territory in 2007. Shock to Israeli psyche October 7 delivered a deep shock to the psyche of Israel, which has prided itself on protecting its borders despite long odds. Partner service Learn French with Gymglish Thanks to a daily lesson, an original story and a personalized correction, in 15 minutes per day. Try for free Israelis had a more triumphant narrative last week when passengers helped foil an attack by the co-pilot of a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, although questions were soon raised on why he was allowed to fly. Read more Subscribers only Three years after October 7: Despite pain, two former Hamas hostages promote message of peace On October 7, 2023, Palestinian fighters breached the border, storming southern Israel with gunfire, rockets and grenades. A total of 1,221 people died in the attack, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also dragged 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of them already dead. Israel's military offensive has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza and killed more than 74,200 people, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. Le Monde with AFP