By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
7 October 2026
Israelis gathered across the country on Wednesday to mourn the victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, as the third anniversary brought renewed memories of the deadliest assault in Israel’s history and the devastating war that followed in Gaza.
Memorial ceremonies were held in communities near the Gaza border, at the site of the Nova music festival, in cemeteries and at other locations connected to the attacks.
For Palestinians in Gaza, however, October 7 marks the beginning of three years of war that have transformed much of the territory, displaced most of its population and left tens of thousands dead.
The anniversary therefore carries profoundly different meanings for Israelis and Palestinians, with both communities continuing to live with the consequences of a conflict that has reshaped the region.
Israelis Remember Those Killed
In southern Israel, families and community members gathered at locations where the October 7 attack unfolded.
At Kfar Aza, a kibbutz near the Gaza border that was overrun by Hamas-led militants, residents held a solemn memorial ceremony for those killed and abducted.
A roll call of victims was read as the community remembered residents who died during the attack.
Many former residents remain displaced three years later, and the physical and emotional impact of the assault continues to shape life in communities close to Gaza.
At the Nova music festival site near Re’im, families also gathered to remember hundreds of people who were killed during the attack.
The festival became one of the most prominent locations associated with the October 7 assault after Hamas-led militants attacked attendees who had gathered for the outdoor event.
The First Anniversary Since All Hostages Returned
This year’s commemoration is also different because it is the first October 7 anniversary since all of the hostages taken during the attack have been returned, either alive or deceased.
Among those remembering the anniversary is Elkana Bohbot, who was abducted from the Nova festival and spent 738 days in captivity before his release.
Bohbot has described spending much of his captivity underground in difficult conditions and has since undergone rehabilitation and begun rebuilding his life with his family.
His experience is part of the continuing legacy of the hostage crisis, which became one of the defining issues in Israeli politics during the war.
Gaza Bears the Consequences of Three Years of War
While Israelis gathered to mourn the victims of October 7, Palestinians in Gaza faced an anniversary defined by the destruction left by the military campaign that followed the attack.
More than 74,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry cited by international news organizations.
The territory’s population of roughly two million people has experienced repeated displacement, with large areas of residential neighbourhoods, infrastructure and public facilities destroyed or severely damaged.
Palestinian families have been left to remember relatives killed during the conflict while living among damaged buildings, temporary shelters and severely disrupted public services.
The humanitarian situation has remained a major international concern, particularly regarding food, shelter, medical care and access to essential supplies.
Different Memories of the Same Date
The October 7 anniversary has become a powerful symbol of two interconnected but profoundly different experiences.
For Israelis, the date represents the sudden attack that shattered communities along the Gaza border, killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage.
For Palestinians, the date is inseparable from the Israeli military campaign that followed and the enormous destruction and loss of life in Gaza.
Reuters reported that Palestinians interviewed for the anniversary recalled lives that existed before the war, including homes, neighbourhoods and family relationships that have since been disrupted or destroyed.
The competing memories have also contributed to continuing political and social divisions internationally, including in Canada, the United States and Europe.
Netanyahu Faces Continuing Questions
The anniversary has also renewed political questions inside Israel about the government’s handling of the October 7 attack.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have faced criticism over security and intelligence failures that allowed Hamas-led militants to breach the border and attack communities in southern Israel.
There have also been demands for an independent investigation into what went wrong before and during the attack.
The issue has become increasingly significant as Israel approaches another national election, with opponents of Netanyahu seeking to make accountability for October 7 an important political issue.
Netanyahu’s government has faced pressure from families of victims and former hostages over the handling of the crisis, while supporters have emphasized the security challenges Israel continues to face.
Gaza Remains Deeply Scarred
The physical destruction in Gaza remains one of the most visible consequences of the conflict.
Large areas of the territory have been reduced to rubble, while hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have experienced repeated displacement.
Although a ceasefire has reduced the scale of the fighting compared with earlier stages of the war, reports indicate that Israeli strikes have continued and casualties have still been recorded.
The Israeli government says its military operations have been aimed at Hamas and other armed groups and has continued to cite security concerns.
Palestinians and international critics have raised concerns about the scale of civilian suffering and destruction.
A Region Still Living With the Consequences
The October 7 attack and the subsequent Gaza war have also contributed to wider instability across the Middle East.
The conflict has involved or affected armed groups and countries beyond Israel and Gaza, including Hezbollah and Iran, while contributing to broader regional security and diplomatic tensions.
The war has also had consequences for international politics, humanitarian organizations and communities around the world.
Three years later, the events of October 7 continue to influence political debates far beyond the region.
An Anniversary Marked by Grief
For families in Israel who lost relatives on October 7, the anniversary remains a day of mourning and remembrance.
For Palestinians in Gaza, the same period marks three years of displacement, destruction and the loss of family members.
The different experiences underline how deeply the conflict has affected both populations.
As memorial ceremonies took place in Israel and Palestinians reflected on the devastation in Gaza, the third anniversary offered no simple shared narrative of the events.
Instead, it highlighted the lasting human consequences of October 7, the war that followed and the unresolved political questions surrounding the conflict.
Three years after the attack, Israelis continue to mourn those they lost, while Palestinians continue to rebuild lives amid the ruins left by the war — with both communities carrying memories of a conflict whose consequences remain far from settled.
