Israel came to a standstill at 6:29am on October 7, exactly three years after the Hamas attack that in 2023 left roughly 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. A minute of silence opened a day of commemorations, with flags flown at half-mast at the Knesset and the presidential residence, and ceremonies held at the site of the Nova Festival.
The third anniversary comes against a different backdrop than previous years: the hostages have now either returned to Israel or had their remains recovered. Yet deep internal divisions persist, which surfaced even during the official commemorations, prompting some relatives of victims and hostages to keep their distance from the events.
Meanwhile, the war in the Gaza Strip continues. New Israeli strikes were reported even on the day of the anniversary, as the overall Palestinian death toll cited by international sources surpassed 74,000.
Security concerns also remain high. According to reports from an Israeli cabinet meeting, the Shin Bet has warned that Hamas may be preparing a new attack, as the country heads toward elections.
Commenting on the significance of October 7, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, called it «an extremely serious tragedy» and «a watershed moment in Israel’s history». For Pizzaballa, the future must be rebuilt not only on a material level but also through relationships and coexistence, in a period still marked by violence and deep instability.
