Israel has marked the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks with memorial events, renewed calls for a state commission of inquiry, and reflections on Gaza's devastated landscape. Internationally, the day brought a mix of solidarity messages from world leaders alongside fresh controversies in Britain and France over the legacy of the attacks and attitudes towards Israel and Jewish identity.
Security
Three years after the October 7 massacre, Gaza remains devastated, with roughly 82% of its structures damaged and many residents still living in tents. Hamas continues to present the attack as 'legitimate resistance', even as the IDF deepens its presence in the territory and establishes new outposts. Popular protests against Hamas have periodically emerged but quickly dissipated. In Israel, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu announced that the protective shelters along Route 232 near Gaza, where 90 people were murdered and five abducted on October 7, will be preserved as official national heritage sites rather than demolished. The sister of one victim murdered at the Be'eri junction said the preservation 'helps calm our hearts a little'. Separately, Gregory Lobanov, father of hostage Alex Lobanov who was murdered in captivity, underwent a kidney transplant at Sheba Medical Center the day before the anniversary, with his son describing the timing as something 'you couldn't dream of'.
Politics
Thousands of Israelis took part in nationwide protests on the anniversary, demanding greater accountability from political and military leaders and calling for a full state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding October 7. Separately, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Shikli drew sharp criticism after mimicking the accent of immigrants from the former Soviet Union during a radio interview and referencing a past comment by Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman. Olympic judo medallist Peter Paltchik, who said the accent was 'the accent of the home I come from', called on Shikli to apologise, a demand echoed by Liberman, who accused the minister of insulting the roughly one million Russian-speakers living in Israel.
International
World leaders issued messages of solidarity with Israel on the anniversary, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who said October 7 was 'a barbaric act of terror' and that the world 'stands with Israel'. In Britain, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch paid tribute to the victims in her party conference speech while accusing the Green Party, under new leader Zack Polanski, of 'seeking to erase Jewish identity' after the party voted to label Zionism as a form of racism. It also emerged that Lubna Masarwa, the activist who led that Green Party motion, has previously offered to testify in support of a convicted al-Qaeda operative who had plotted a mass-casualty bombing at Heathrow Airport targeting passengers including Israelis. In France, MEP Rima Hassan faces disciplinary action from the European Parliament after she threw an Israeli flag to the floor at an October 7 memorial exhibition, with the parliament's president vowing 'appropriate steps' and Israeli artist and massacre survivor Yaron Bob saying he was left 'offended and enraged'. Elsewhere, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said only a negotiated solution could end the crisis over the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran awaits Washington's final position on its proposal to reopen the strait, following comments from US President Donald Trump. In Namibia, two Iranian women were mistakenly arrested after being confused with Israeli nationals, a mix-up clarified by the local Chabad emissary. Separately, a US congressional report suggested Israel may have breached Visa Waiver Program conditions by failing to properly conduct background checks on airline crews, a requirement of the scheme it joined in 2023.
Other Developments
A Tel Aviv court sentenced Jason Oda to life imprisonment for the murder of Elena Granberg, whom he stabbed more than ten times after she rejected his advances, before driving her body to a remote area and dousing it in petrol. Judges described the killing as 'an act devoid of mercy', ordering Oda to pay the family 258,000 shekels in compensation. In sports, Israeli judoka Keren Primo reached the final of the World Judo Championships in the under-63kg category after defeating Hungary's Anna Kriszta, and will now face world number one Haruka Kaju for the gold medal.
Media Consensus
Israeli outlets largely focused on commemorations of the October 7 anniversary, with a shared emphasis on the preservation of memorial sites, public demands for a state inquiry, and international solidarity. Coverage of controversies abroad—particularly in the UK and France—was consistent across sources, framing these incidents as part of a broader struggle over Israel's legitimacy and Jewish identity in international discourse.
What to Watch
- Whether the Israeli government moves to establish a formal state commission of inquiry into October 7 failures
- The outcome of US-Iran indirect negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and sanctions relief
- European Parliament's disciplinary response to MEP Rima Hassan's flag incident and fallout from the UK Green Party's Zionism vote
Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel
