Israel Begins Memorial Observances Three Years After October 7 Attacks

Israel has begun marking National Memorial Day for the October 7 attacks, with flags lowered to half-mast at the President’s Residence and the Knesset.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog attended an official state ceremony in Jerusalem commemorating fallen soldiers and marking three years since the attacks.

Officials gather in Jerusalem

Further state ceremonies marking the anniversary were expected to take place later on Monday in Jerusalem, with Israeli officials due to attend.

The October 7, 2023 attack killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to figures cited in the report. A further 251 people were abducted.

The commemorations are taking place as the Israel-Hamas war approaches three years. The Palestinian death toll in Gaza from the conflict has surpassed 74,000, according to the report.

Netanyahu rules out Hamas governance

Speaking during the ceremony, Netanyahu said Hamas would not govern Gaza.

“In Gaza, there will be no rule by Hamas,” he said.

Netanyahu also warned people he said were involved in the attack or had held hostages.

“Anyone who was involved in the attack against us, anyone who held our hostages, is living on borrowed time. We will reach him, just as we reached the others,” he said.

The identities of those referenced by Netanyahu were not specified in the supplied information.