Across Israel, people stood still at 6:29am on Wednesday, marking the exact minute three years ago when Hamas militants launched a coordinated assault that killed 1,200 people and took 252 hostages. The silence, organised by a group representing bereaved families, was one of several tributes held at road junctions, bomb shelters, and the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel.
This year's anniversary is the first since all surviving hostages returned home, a milestone that has shifted the national mood from acute crisis to a more reflective mourning. Among those taking part was Elkana Bohbot, 37, who was abducted from the Nova festival and spent 738 days in captivity, most of it in a tunnel 50 metres underground. Freed last year, he marked the anniversary in Israel for the first time. Speaking to reporters, he said the birth of his daughter in August was his message to his captors: "We [Israelis] were here, and we will always be here forever."
Commemorations amid ongoing strikes
At the Nova festival site, where militants in trucks and on paragliders opened fire at dawn on 7 October 2023, family members bowed their heads in silence. AFP reported that at least one person played techno music in tribute to the fallen, a nod to the festival's spirit. Photographs of the victims have been erected at the site, serving as a stark reminder of the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
The commemorations were separate from the government's official memorial services, which were held on 5 October to align with the Hebrew calendar. They also took place against a backdrop of continued violence. AFP reporters at both Nova and Kfar Aza kibbutz heard loud bangs from across the border in Gaza as Israel carried out new strikes, despite a ceasefire that has been officially in place for the past year. Gaza officials said at least two people were killed in overnight strikes in the territory, much of which has been reduced to rubble.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to the victims and their families in a post on X, writing: "The unspeakable savagery and terror of 7 October must never happen again." She added that the EU remains ready to help turn the current fragile ceasefire into a durable peace, based on a two-state solution. Her remarks come amid heightened tensions in Europe over the conflict, including recent incidents such as the removal of an Israeli flag at the European Parliament and Metsola's vow to act over the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who attended the official memorial ceremony on 5 October, vowed there would be "no forgiveness for the murderers" and promised never to allow Hamas to rule in Gaza. However, his government has faced criticism for its handling of the attack. More than 200 former hostages and relatives wrote to Netanyahu last year demanding an inquiry into the 7 October attacks or his resignation. Instead, the prime minister published redacted government documents and described the attacks as "a serious intelligence failure."
The political fallout continues to shape Israel's domestic landscape. An election is scheduled for the end of the month, and the anniversary has reignited debates over accountability and security policy. In Europe, the conflict has also strained diplomatic relations, with Finland's government surviving a confidence vote over its Israel policy, and Israel barring a UK Green Party leader after a controversial vote. These incidents underscore the broader European resonance of the conflict, as EU institutions and member states grapple with how to respond.
As the day of mourning unfolded, the focus remained on the human cost. Families at the memorial sites spoke of their loss and their determination to remember. The silence at 6:29am was a collective act of remembrance, but also a reminder of the deep scars left by the attack and the ongoing instability in the region.
