Three years after the Hamas-led attack, Israeli families remember those killed and abducted while Palestinians continue to cope with displacement, destruction and the consequences of the Gaza war

Israelis are marking the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack with memorial gatherings across southern Israel, while Palestinians in Gaza continue to face the devastating consequences of the war that followed.

The attack killed around 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. It triggered a large-scale Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across the territory.

Families Remember Victims of October 7

In southern Israel, families are gathering at locations associated with the attack, including roadsides, bomb shelters and the site of the Nova music festival, where Hamas-led militants killed and abducted civilians.

This year's anniversary carries a different significance for many Israeli families because all the hostages have now returned home, marking a new phase in the process of mourning and recovery.

Among those remembering the anniversary is Elkana Bohbot, who was abducted from the Nova festival and spent 738 days in captivity before being released. He has since undergone physical and emotional rehabilitation and rebuilt his life with his family.

Gaza Faces Long-Term Humanitarian Crisis

For Palestinians, the anniversary is overshadowed by the continuing consequences of the war.

Much of Gaza's population has been displaced, with large numbers of people living in temporary shelters and difficult humanitarian conditions. Extensive areas of the territory's urban infrastructure have been destroyed, while access to food, medical supplies and other essential goods remains a major concern.

Gaza's Health Ministry has reported more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths since the beginning of the conflict. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its overall figures, although it has said women and children account for around half of those killed.

Ceasefire Has Reduced Fighting but Not Ended Violence

A ceasefire reached nearly a year ago brought a major reduction in the intensity of fighting, but violence has not completely stopped.

Israeli authorities have continued to report strikes against what they describe as Hamas targets, while Palestinian officials say civilians continue to be affected.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, while seven Israeli soldiers have also died during the same period.

The continuing violence has made reconstruction and long-term recovery significantly more difficult.

Conflict Reshapes the Wider Region

The October 7 attack and subsequent Gaza war have had consequences well beyond Israel and Gaza.

The conflict expanded into a wider regional confrontation involving Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran. Israel has conducted military operations in Lebanon and Syria, while tensions between Israel, Iran and the United States have resulted in direct attacks and heightened instability across the region.

More than 300,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon, while the wider confrontation has also affected energy markets, shipping routes and global economic conditions.

Political Debate Intensifies in Israel

The anniversary is also taking place against the backdrop of intense political debate inside Israel.

Questions remain over how the October 7 attack occurred and whether Israeli authorities adequately responded to warnings and security threats before the assault.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has faced criticism over its handling of the war and resistance to an official inquiry into the failures surrounding the attack.

With elections approaching, the war and the government's response are expected to remain major political issues.

Palestinians Face Uncertain Future

For Palestinians, the conflict has deepened an already longstanding humanitarian and political crisis.

Hamas has described the October 7 attack as a response to decades of Israeli occupation, settlement expansion and restrictions on Palestinians. Israel has rejected such justification and has focused on the threat posed by Hamas and other armed groups.

The destruction in Gaza, however, has made the prospects for rebuilding and establishing a viable political future increasingly difficult.

The violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has also intensified, with Palestinian communities reporting attacks and property destruction by extremist settlers.

A Region Transformed by Three Years of Conflict

Three years after October 7, the conflict has fundamentally changed the security and political landscape of West Asia.

Israel has fought on multiple fronts, Gaza has suffered enormous destruction and displacement, Lebanon has faced renewed instability, and direct confrontation involving Iran and the United States has added another layer of regional risk.

The anniversary therefore carries different meanings for communities on opposite sides of the conflict: remembrance and mourning for Israelis, and continuing hardship and uncertainty for Palestinians.

The challenge for the region remains not only ending the immediate violence but also establishing conditions that can support humanitarian recovery, reconstruction and a sustainable political settlement.