Israel marks 3 years since October 7 attack that sparked war in Gaza

Israel marked the third anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Wednesday with silent tributes, new strikes on Gaza and intense political debate, weeks before 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 in silence – 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, loud bangs could be heard from across the border in Gaza during the commemorations as Israel carried out new strikes, despite a ceasefire officially in place for the past year.

Gaza officials said at least two people were killed in overnight strikes in the territory, most of which has been reduced to rubble in relentless bombing in retaliation for the worst attack ever against Israel.