Israelis held memorial events on Wednesday to mark the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attack that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. Families gathered to pay tribute to their loved ones at various sites where about 1,200 people were killed in the assault and 251 were taken hostage.
Official response and protests
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “The nation unites on this day in the longing for our dear ones.”
- Netanyahu simultaneously faced calls from protesters demanding an independent state inquiry into the security failures that occurred on 7 October.
The subsequent military offensive launched by Israel in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 74,200 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures that are widely viewed as reliable by the United Nations.
