Israel Holds National Memorial Day for October 7 Attack Victims
The observance marks official Hebrew calendar commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the Hamas attack and the war that followed.
Israel began its official national memorial day on Monday to honor those killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the ensuing war. The state day of remembrance was held on the Hebrew date of 24 Tishrei, which fell two days before the Gregorian calendar anniversary of the attack.
At 6:29 a.m., matching the minute Hamas began firing rockets into Israel three years earlier, the Israeli flag was lowered to half-staff at the Knesset plaza in Jerusalem. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, parliamentary leaders, and security officials laid wreaths at monuments dedicated to fallen soldiers and victims of hostile acts. Flags were also lowered at the President's Residence, where President Isaac Herzog said the observance recognized both the dead and those wounded physically and psychologically.
Two official state ceremonies were scheduled at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. The first event remembered soldiers and security forces killed in action, and the second honored civilians who died during the attacks and the conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and military leaders joined bereaved relatives to mark the ceremonies.
Israel's military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, issued an order of the day addressing the armed forces. Zamir stated that the military failed in its supreme mission to defend the public on October 7 and said officials have an obligation to investigate and learn from those failures.
The attack by Hamas killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and militants took about 250 hostages into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government established the annual memorial day by law on the Hebrew calendar, selecting the date shortly after the conclusion of the Jewish autumn holidays. The day remains a regular working day without a nationwide air-raid siren.
Municipalities and universities also arranged local rallies, panel discussions with relatives of former hostages, and educational exhibits. Separate commemorations organized by grassroots groups and victim families are scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, including a morning minute of silence and an evening gathering at the site of the Nova music festival in Reim.
