Israel marks third anniversary of October 7 attack as election looms

Israel marks the third anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Wednesday, just weeks before an election in which the deadliest day in the country’s history will be front and centre.

Commemorative events will also be the first to be held since a ceasefire officially began in war-torn Gaza last year.

Memorial events are planned throughout the day to pay tribute to the scores of people killed by militants led by the Islamist movement during their assault from Gaza.

Palestinian fighters breached the border, storming southern Israel with gunfire, rockets and grenades, and resulting in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also dragged 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of them already dead.

At 06:29am (0329 GMT), the exact time the Hamas attack began three years ago, a tribute is due to be held at Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border, where militants killed 64 residents and abducted 18 people during their attack.

Another event is scheduled at the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel, where militants killed more than 370 people and seized dozens of hostages.

Bereaved families are also organising a gathering in a Tel Aviv park on Wednesday evening.

Read more: France 24