Israelis and Gazans mark three years since 7 October

This week marks three years since the Hamas-led attack on Israeli soil in 2023, where nearly 1,200 people were killed in a massacre, including at least 815 civilians. The Operation al-Aqsa Flood attack by Gazan armed groups committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including hostage-taking of 251 people, all of whom have been released. It is recorded as the bloodiest day in Israel's history.

Since 7 October, Israeli military forces have led a destructive war on Gaza that has killed more than 74,000 people, along with a continuing siege of the Palestinian territory. Israel has been accused of genocide, mass displacement, and several war crimes in its oppression of Palestinian life—affecting everything from food to water, electricity, health operations, religious spaces, schools, and journalism.

Welcome to Gaza Notes, a new Conflict Journal installment that will follow the latest developments—and anything related globally—on the Palestinian territory.

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In Gaza

Palestinian health officials reported that four people were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, including a civil defense volunteer worker, in violation of a US-brokered "ceasefire" that began in October 2025.

“After three years of siege, killing and destruction, Israel has turned the Gaza Strip into an uninhabitable place,” Gaza City resident Mahmoud Abu Hasira told AFP.

Israel's defense minister Israel Katz claimed without evidence that intelligence found Hamas was preparing attacks for the 7 October anniversary, and Israeli officials threatened "a sharp and powerful response" if so.

Israel and wider Palestine

People in Israel marked the exact moment of 6:29AM local time when the attacks began three years ago. It's also the first anniversary where there are no hostages held in Gaza. A national moment of silence was held.

Former hostages and their families (paywall) shared their struggle from the horrors of captivity in Gaza, and they're still fighting for better government support services, Jerusalem Post reported.

Survivors of the Hamas-led attack in southern Israeli communities described their trauma, struggles with substance abuse (paywall), and ongoing hardship in how to rebuild years later.

Nearly half of Israelis surveyed in a new N12 poll said they blame their government and military for failures around the 7 October massacre, and 66% supported a state inquiry. Various protests called for a state investigation.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a video on X denying a genocide in Gaza, despite international human rights groups and independent organizations asserting such, and despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him.

Israeli soldiers plan to conduct operations across the occupied West Bank, and reports already say one Palestinian was killed.

Schools and universities in the West Bank closed due to concerns over potential violence by settlers on the 7 October anniversary. Other reports say Israel also barred Palestinian election officials from entering Gaza and East Jerusalem ahead of November legislative elections.

The UK will close its consulate in East Jerusalem on 8 October because of Israeli orders over the UK's recently announced ban on trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank. "Palestinians [are] bearing the cost," an analyst with the International Crisis Group said.

And across the world

"It is time for the ceasefire to become permanent. It is time to allow humanitarian assistance at scale. And it is time to respect international law," United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres said earlier this week.

"Let this anniversary mark not only another year of mourning, but also a renewed determination to build a different future: one in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security, with their rights, dignity, and aspirations fulfilled."

World leaders paid tribute to the victims of the 7 October attacks, and Jewish people held vigils globally. Pro-Palestinian gatherings took place in London and elsewhere.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X that 7 October was a "profoundly painful" day for "so many" New Yorkers given the "horrific war crimes" by Hamas, and the start of "the Israeli government's devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza."

Hadded, "to honor the dead, we must fight for a world in which every person can live with freedom, safety, and dignity." Mamdani plans to attend a remembrance vigil and also meet with Palestinians.

Officials condemned (paywall) an EU Parliament member for taking down an Israeli flag to protest Israel's "ongoing genocide" in Gaza, and her office clarified the action was to not harm October 7 victims.

Like Netanyahu, there are increasing efforts (paywall) to hold former US president Joe Biden and his officials accountable for Israel's actions in Gaza. Yet, US military aid to Israel continues under Donald Trump's administration.

Additional reading

• Haaretz Magazine compiled the various online archives (paywall) documenting Israel's war in Gaza's "catastrophe for the ages."
• Dozens of retired US military members issued an open letter denouncing assertions that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
• "The genocide is not over," UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese said in an interview with Anadolu Agency.
• Mondoweiss has a piece on the young generation "who have no memory of the world before the genocide."
• Nicholay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza under the US-led "board of peace" body, published a piece at The National News about the future.
• A news correspondent shared about moving back to Nahal Oz (paywall), a kibbutz that was attacked three years earlier.
• A reporter for Israeli publication Haaretz recalled how it was working (paywall) on the news desk three years ago.
• Electronic Intifada wrote about "how Hamas hid 7 October plans in plain sight" in an extensive report, and Haaretz compiled (paywall) "all the warnings Netanyahu got" prior.
• The child of an Israeli peace activist urged in Haaretz (paywall) not to "use her name to justify mass killing" while a Palestinian journalist said Palestinians "will continue to resist" in a piece for Electronic Intifada.