(https://tms.fmm.io) (../../build/css/root.d116f5bfc4188b425c6d.css) (https://www.france24.com/build/fonts/inter_latin.640b10a7966d94927c2ec64a71918e48.woff2) (../../build/css/article.6abce05101bc530398b6.css) (../../build/css/root.d116f5bfc4188b425c6d.css) (../../build/css/root.d116f5bfc4188b425c6d.css)  (../../build/css/article.6abce05101bc530398b6.css) (../../build/css/article.6abce05101bc530398b6.css)  Israel marks three years since October 7 attack ahead of elections - France 24 (20261007-israel-three-years-october-7-attack-elections.html) (../../favicon.ico) (https://www.france24.com/apple-touch-icon.png) (../../favicon-32x32.png) (../../favicon-194x194.png) (../../android-chrome-192x192.png) (../../favicon-16x16.png) (../site.manifest) (https://www.france24.com/safari-pinned-tab.svg)    (20261007-israel-three-years-october-7-attack-elections.html#main-content) Skip to main content (https://www.france24.com/en/) France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#logo-france24)     (https://www.france24.com/en/) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-home)   Home    (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/latest-shows/) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-replay)   Shows    (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-rewind-clock)   Newsfeed    (https://www.france24.com/en/live) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-tv)   Live     en (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)    (https://www.france24.com/fr/) Français    (https://www.france24.com/en/) English    (https://www.france24.com/es/) Español    (https://www.france24.com/ar/) عربي          (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-settings)   Settings (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)     (https://emailing.france24.com/en/subscribe) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-mail)   Sign up for newsletters    (https://www.france24.com/en/news-alerts-settings) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-bell)   Manage subscription to notifications    (20261007-israel-three-years-october-7-attack-elections.html#) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-consent)   Manage my privacy settings          (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#picto-burger)   Menu     (https://www.france24.com/en/) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-home)   Home    (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/latest-shows/) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-replay)   Shows    (https://www.france24.com/en/live) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-tv)   Live    (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-rewind-clock)   Newsfeed    (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#picto-burger)   Menu     (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-cross)   Close  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/israel-hamas-war/) Mideast conflict  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/nepal/) Nepal-Tibet deadly floods  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/heatwave/) Heatwave    (https://www.france24.com/en/live) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-tv)   France 24 live   (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/) See all shows   (https://www.france24.com/en/replay/latest-news) Latest Newscast     (https://www.france24.com/en/replay/closed-captioned-newscast) Closed-captioned Newscast   (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-guide) TV guide   (https://howtowatch.france24.com/en/) Watch France 24 on TV     Headings   Topics  (https://www.france24.com/en/environment)  Environment   (https://www.france24.com/en/business-tech/)  Business / Tech   (https://www.france24.com/en/sport/)  Sport   (https://www.france24.com/en/culture/)  Culture   (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/the-bright-side/) The Bright Side   (https://www.france24.com/en/webdocumentaries/) Infographics   (https://www.france24.com/en/fight-the-fake/) Fight the Fake   (https://www.france24.com/en/the-observers/) The Observers   (https://www.france24.com/en/sponsored-contents/) Sponsored contents     By region  (https://www.france24.com/en/france/)  France   (https://www.france24.com/en/africa/)  Africa   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/)  Middle East   (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/)  Americas   (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/)  Europe   (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/)  Asia-Pacific         (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)   Previous  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)   Next   (https://www.france24.com/en/france/)  France   (https://www.france24.com/en/africa/)  Africa   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/)  Middle East   (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/)  Americas   (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/)  Europe   (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/)  Asia-Pacific         Advertising (Report this ad) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-report-ad)       (20261007-israel-three-years-october-7-attack-elections.html#)  (20261007-israel-three-years-october-7-attack-elections.html#)  (20261007-israel-three-years-october-7-attack-elections.html#)    (https://www.france24.com/en/) Home   (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/) Middle East     Israel marks three years since October 7 attack ahead of elections  Middle East   Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Wednesday with silent tributes and renewed strikes on Gaza as political debate intensified ahead of elections. Families gathered at the Nova festival site and Kfar Aza kibbutz. Gaza officials said strikes killed five people despite a year-old ceasefire agreement.   Issued on: 07/10/2026 - 23:50   (Reading time) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-clock)    4 min Reading time   Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)      By:  (https://www.france24.com/en/author/france-24/) (FRANCE 24) FRANCE 24       (People carrying Israeli flags walk through a commemorative installation set up on the beach in Tel Aviv to mark the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.)  People carrying Israeli flags walk through a commemorative installation set up on the beach in Tel Aviv to mark the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.        © AFP    (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/israel/) Israel marked the third anniversary of (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/hamas/) Hamas 's (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/october-7-attacks/) October 7 attack  on Wednesday with silent tributes, new strikes on Gaza and intense political debate, weeks before (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/elections/) elections in which the country's deadliest day will be front and centre. At the site of the Nova music festival, where Hamas militants in trucks and paragliders opened fire around dawn on October 7, 2023, family members bowed their heads quietly -- although at least one instead put on techno music in tribute to the fallen. Both at Nova and the Kfar Aza kibbutz, another site of mass killings three years earlier, AFP reporters heard loud bangs from across the border in Gaza during the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/commemorations/) commemorations as Israel carried out new strikes, despite a (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/ceasefire/) ceasefire officially in place for the past year. Gaza officials said five people were killed in strikes in the territory, most of which has been reduced to rubble in relentless bombing in retaliation for the worst attack ever against Israel. At the Nova site, Katia Zohar, whose daughter Bar Zohar was killed at age 23, called the start of the attack at 6:29 am (0329 GMT) "the minute that changed our lives forever". "Sadly I remember everything," Zohar said. "The moment she called for me to come and pick her up because there were missiles in the air. Then the second time when she called from the road, screaming that they were shooting at her." Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/video/20261007-three-years-on-questions-remain-over-what-netanyahu-knew-before-october-7) Three years on, questions remain over what Netanyahu knew before October 7  Anna Davitashvili, 53, paid tribute to her eldest son Shaun, who was killed aged 25 at Nova alongside friends, by playing the last track of techno music that the partygoers were dancing to when the attack began. "I feel him here. I'm terribly sorry that I couldn't save him, I couldn't help him get out of this (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/massacre/) massacre ," she said, tears filling her eyes. In the evening in a Tel Aviv park, a memorial ceremony organised by survivors and bereaved families included songs, tributes and videos, drawing a crowd of several thousand. The event, broadcast across Israel's major (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/television/) television channels, was co-hosted by former hostage Eli Sharabi, who lost his wife and two daughters in the attack and whose brother was killed in Gaza captivity. "Tonight, we embrace the memory of those murdered and those who fell in battle, and we embrace those who were wounded and still bear the scars," he said. Israel's main opposition candidates were in attendance, including Prime Minister (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/benjamin-netanyahu/) Benjamin Netanyahu 's principal rival Gadi Eisenkot. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261007-how-netanyahu-survived-the-political-fallout-from-the-october-7-attacks) How Netanyahu survived the political fallout from the October 7 attacks  Election battle  On October 27, Israel will hold elections for the first time since the attack, with polls showing a tight race for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who in three years has ordered the massive offensive in Gaza and fought wars against (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/hezbollah/) Hezbollah in (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/lebanon/) Lebanon as well as (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/iran/) Iran , whose cleric-run government backs Hamas. At the Nova site, (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/naftali-bennett/) Naftali Bennett , a former prime minister seeking to oust Netanyahu, told reporters of the attack: "This was a colossal failure of the state of Israel, which was established to defend Jews in our land." The centre-left Democrats Party put online footage of the attack, without commentary. "A government that for three years has not destroyed Hamas's rule is a government dangerous to Israel," Democrats leader Yair Golan said. Netanyahu lit a memorial candle at his office in Jerusalem. "On this day, the people are united in remembrance and longing for our loved ones," he said in a statement, adding: "We will complete the mission: we are here and we will hold all the murderers to account." US President (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/donald-trump/) Donald Trump said he'd spoken to Netanyahu, calling October 7 "a horrible tragedy".  "The other side is paying a very big price for what they did on October 7, believe me," he told reporters as he left the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/white-house/) White House . Hamas was defiant on the third anniversary, issuing a statement, calling October 7 "a glorious day of our people's (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/history/) history " and "a natural response to, and culmination of, decades of bitter suffering". Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260812-netanyahu-gave-a-victory-to-hamas-by-rejecting-us-backed-gaza-peace-plan) Netanyahu gave a ‘victory to Hamas’ by rejecting US-backed Gaza peace plan  Shock to Israeli psyche On October 7, Palestinian fighters breached the border, storming southern Israel with gunfire, rockets and grenades. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also dragged (https://www.france24.com/en/video/20261007-october-7-former-israeli-hostage-speaks-to-france-24) 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of them already dead. Israel's (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/military/) military offensive has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza and killed more than 74,200 people, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)     Read next   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261007-israel-marks-third-anniversary-of-october-7-attack-as-election-looms) (People visit the site of the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Reim, in southern Israel.)   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261007-israel-marks-third-anniversary-of-october-7-attack-as-election-looms) (Israel marks third anniversary of October 7 attack as election looms) Israel marks third anniversary of October 7 attack as election looms    Middle East    (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte/20261006-we-were-naive-about-hamas-israeli-ex-hostage-shoshan-haran-says) (Israeli ex-hostage Shoshan Haran on FRANCE 24'S TÊTE À TÊTE)  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)      Tête à tête (https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte/20261006-we-were-naive-about-hamas-israeli-ex-hostage-shoshan-haran-says) ('We were naive' about Hamas, Israeli ex-hostage Shoshan Haran says) 'We were naive' about Hamas, Israeli ex-hostage Shoshan Haran says    Middle East          Today's top stories   (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261007-what-france-s-student-protesters-want-%E2%80%93-and-what-the-government-is-offering) (What France's student protesters want – and what the government is offering) What France's student protesters want – and what the government is offering   France    Includes a video  2 min   (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261007-live-france-suspends-stun-grenade-use-school-protests-after-15-year-old-loses-hand) (Live: French student unions demand talks with Lecornu as PM seeks to ease tensions) Live: French student unions demand talks with Lecornu as PM seeks to ease tensions  Live  France     (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261007-middle-east-live-houthis-target-airport-in-yemen-as-israel-marks-october-7-anniversary) (French FM denounces 'poison' of anti-Semitism as Israel marks October 7 attacks anniversary) French FM denounces 'poison' of anti-Semitism as Israel marks October 7 attacks anniversary   Middle East     (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261007-how-netanyahu-survived-the-political-fallout-from-the-october-7-attacks) (How Netanyahu survived the political fallout from the October 7 attacks) How Netanyahu survived the political fallout from the October 7 attacks   Middle East     (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261007-russia-warns-against-spreading-false-information-reports-emerge-second-plague-case) (Russia warns against spreading 'false information' as reports emerge of second plague case) Russia warns against spreading 'false information' as reports emerge of second plague case   Europe        Advertising (Report this ad) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-report-ad)           Most read   1 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261006-french-interior-ministry-estimates-250-000-join-student-protests-organisers-claim-450-000) French interior ministry estimates 250,000 join student protests; organisers claim 450,000   As it happened  France       2 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261005-live-up-to-500-schools-to-shut-in-france-as-student-protests-continue) More than 5,000 detained so far in French student protests   As it happened  France       3 (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261006-massive-ukrainian-drone-attack-targets-moscow-russian-officials-say) Ukraine hits Moscow with one of its largest drone attacks in two years    Europe       4 (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261004-who-are-the-mystery-pilots-who-successfully-landed-endangered-flydubai-flight-1073) Who are the mystery pilots who successfully landed endangered Flydubai flight 1073?    Middle East       5 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261005-how-lulas-successes-in-brazil-may-have-paved-the-way-for-his-presidential-defeat) How Lula’s successes in Brazil may have paved the way for his presidential defeat   Explainer  Americas       6 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261005-brazil-presidential-election-runoff-bolsonaro-lula) Brazil presidential election heads to run-off as Flavio Bolsonaro leads Lula    Americas    Includes a video  1 min       Keywords for this article   (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/israel/) (Israel) Israel  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/october-7-attacks/) (October 7 attacks) October 7 attacks  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/war-in-gaza/) (War in Gaza) War in Gaza  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/hamas/) (Hamas) Hamas  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/benjamin-netanyahu/) (Benjamin Netanyahu) Benjamin Netanyahu       Happening now (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/) France  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/education/) education  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/french-student-protests/) French student protests  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/protest/) protest  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/paris/) Paris    International (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) USA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/united-kingdom/) United Kingdom  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/canada/) Canada  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/australia/) Australia  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/germany/) Germany  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/india/) India  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/netherlands/) Netherlands  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/south-africa/) South Africa  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/italy/) Italy      About France 24 (https://www.france24.com/en/about-us) Who are we?  (https://www.francemediasmonde.com/en/our-commitments/ethics-and-transparency/) Ethics and transparency  (https://www.pressefmm.com/section/france-24/?lang=en) Press room  (https://www.francemm.com/en/contact?brand=f24) Contact France 24  (https://www.francemm.com/en/contact?brand=f24&topic=edito) Report a problem with our content  (https://www.francemm.com/en/contact?brand=f24&topic=site) Report a technical issue  (https://www.francetvpub.fr/en/brands/france-24/) Advertising  (https://www.francemm.com/en/contact?brand=f24&topic=vente_contenu) Content licensing  (https://recrutement.francemm.com) Join us      France Médias Monde websites (https://www.rfi.fr/en/) RFI  (https://francaisfacile.rfi.fr/en/) Learn French  (https://www.rfi-instrumental.com/en) RFI Instrumental  (https://www.mc-doualiya.com/) MCD  (https://www.infomigrants.net/en/) InfoMigrants  (https://entr.net/en/) ENTR  (https://www.zoa.media/) ZOA  (https://www.cfi.fr/en) CFI  (https://academie.france24-mcd-rfi.com/en) Académie  (https://www.francemediasmonde.com/en/) France Médias Monde      Services (https://emailing.france24.com/en/subscribe) Newsletters  (https://www.france24.com/en/rss-feeds) RSS feeds  (https://howtowatch.france24.com/en/) Watch France 24 on TV    Application (https://www.france24.com/en/applications) Download the France 24 app    (https://www.rfi.fr/en/) (RFI) RFI (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#logo-rfi)     (https://www.france24.com/en/) (France 24) France 24 (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#logo-france24)     (https://www.mc-doualiya.com/) (مونت كارلو الدولية / MCD) مونت كارلو الدولية / MCD (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#logo-mcd)     (https://www.francemediasmonde.com/en/) (France Médias Monde) France Médias Monde (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#logo-fmm)       (https://www.francemm.com/en/legal-notice) Legal notice  (https://www.france24.com/en/accessibility) Accessibility: partially compliant  (https://www.francemm.com/en/privacy) Privacy  (https://www.francemm.com/en/cookies) Cookies  (20261007-israel-three-years-october-7-attack-elections.html#) Manage my privacy settings  (https://www.france24.com/en/news-alerts-settings) Notifications    (https://f24.my/FBen) (Facebook) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-facebook)   Facebook   (https://f24.my/BSen) (Bluesky) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-bluesky)   Bluesky   (https://f24.my/THen) (Threads) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-threads)   Threads   (https://f24.my/IGen) (Instagram) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-instagram)   Instagram   (https://f24.my/YTen) (YouTube) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-youtube)   YouTube   (https://f24.my/TKen) (TikTok) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-tiktok)   TikTok   (https://f24.my/WAen) (WhatsApp) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-whatsapp)   WhatsApp   (https://f24.my/TGen) (Telegram) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-telegram)   Telegram   (https://f24.my/SC) (SoundCloud) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-soundcloud)   SoundCloud   (https://f24.my/GDen) (Add to my preferred sources) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-google-discover)   Add to my preferred sources   (https://f24.my/GN) (Follow on Google News) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-logo-google-news)   Follow on Google News     © 2026 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. Audience ratings certified by ACPM.(https://www.acpm.fr/Support-Numerique/site/france24-com) (ACPM) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#logo-acpm)   ACPM            (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#logo-france24)    Page not found (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-cross)    (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-broken-page)    The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.