Three Years After October 7: Israel Remembers the Lives Lost, the Hostages and the Scars That Remain

Three years after the devastating October 7, 2023 attack, Israel is once again pausing to remember the lives lost, the families shattered and the extraordinary stories of people who ran toward danger as others desperately sought safety.

The anniversary has become one of the most painful dates in Israel’s modern history — a day associated with grief, trauma, courage, remembrance and an enduring determination to rebuild.

A message shared from an Israeli Facebook page captures the sentiment of many Israelis: “Three years later, we remember.”

The message pays tribute to those who were killed, remembers families whose lives were permanently changed, and honours what it describes as the heroes who moved toward danger during the attack.

“October 7 changed us. But it did not break us,” the message says, emphasizing a determination to continue living, rebuilding and choosing hope despite the enormous pain left behind.

What Happened on October 7, 2023?

On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched a large-scale, coordinated attack from Gaza into southern Israel, accompanied by a massive barrage of rockets.

According to the United Nations, more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed and 251 people were abducted and taken into Gaza as hostages. The UN has described the attacks as involving the deliberate targeting of civilians and has documented killings and hostage-taking in Israeli communities and at a music festival.

The Associated Press similarly reports that approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. The assault became the deadliest attack against Israel in decades and triggered the war in Gaza.

The Nova music festival, near the Gaza border, became one of the most tragic locations of the attack, with hundreds of people killed and others abducted.

For families who lost loved ones, October 7 is therefore more than a historical event. It is a date attached to individual names, photographs, homes, communities and memories that cannot simply be erased.

“We’re Still Here”

Three years later, the Israeli message carries a theme of resilience.

“We’re still here. We rebuild. We live. We choose hope.”

That sentiment reflects the experience of communities in southern Israel that have spent years dealing with the consequences of the attack. Some residents have returned to rebuilt communities, while others continue to live with the psychological scars left by the violence.

Reuters reports that Israelis are marking the third anniversary with memorial events and personal acts of remembrance, while survivors and families continue to grapple with the consequences of October 7.

The fate of the hostages has also remained central to the national memory. By 2026, the hostage ordeal had reached another chapter, with the remains of the final hostage, Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, recovered earlier in the year after he was killed while fighting Hamas militants during the October 7 attack.

A Day That Changed the Region

October 7 did not only change Israel. It transformed the wider Middle East.

The attack triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, producing enormous destruction and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis for Palestinians. AP reports that tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed and that large parts of Gaza have been devastated, with millions experiencing displacement and severe humanitarian hardship.

Remembering October 7, therefore, remains deeply connected to the wider tragedy that followed. Israelis continue to mourn their dead and remember the trauma of the attack, while Palestinians in Gaza continue to face the consequences of a devastating war.

Three years later, however, the central message of the Israeli commemoration remains one of remembrance and resilience:

They remember the lives lost.

They remember the families broken apart.

They remember those who fought to protect others.

They remember the hostages.

And they insist that October 7 will not erase their determination to live and rebuild.

“Am Yisrael Chai” — the people of Israel live.

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