Israel Marks Three Years Since Hamas Attack, War Continues

Three years, or 1,092 days, have passed since the October 7th terror attack, a date that irrevocably changed Israel, resulting in a heavy death toll. Since then, 2,057 Israelis have been killed across all fronts, including 1,013 civilians and 1,044 soldiers and security personnel. On that morning, approximately 1,200 people were murdered or fell in their homes, safe rooms, at the Nova music festival, and at military posts, with 251 abducted to the Gaza Strip. Currently, no hostages remain in Gaza, as the last captive, Ran Gvili, was returned for burial in January after 843 days.

The situation in Gaza, nearly a year after a ceasefire, is described as a "low-intensity war." The IDF controls about two-thirds of the Strip up to the "red line," while the remaining third is home to approximately 2 million Palestinians under Hamas rule. Although the architects of the attack have been eliminated and Hamas's rocket capabilities and ability to conduct large-scale raids have been significantly degraded, security officials warn that the organization has not been defeated. Hamas still has an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 militants, including new recruits, and continues to rebuild tunnels, produce rockets, and maintain control on the ground.

Politically, a disarmament agreement proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump in the summer has not materialized. Hamas demands an Israeli withdrawal first, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists the IDF will not leave until Hamas is disarmed. Concurrently, the IDF is preparing for further operations to capture Gaza City in stages, with a decision expected after the upcoming elections in 24 days. The joint IDF and Shin Bet "Nili" task force continues its operations to eliminate those involved in the attack, murders, and abductions, having already neutralized over 2,500 individuals, with hundreds more targeted, including a senior commander killed this week in Gaza City after holding hostages, among them Mia Shem.

The question of responsibility for the intelligence failure remains open. The military and Shin Bet have acknowledged their failure, leading to the departure of the Chief of Staff, head of Military Intelligence, head of Shin Bet, and the commander of the Southern Command. However, no political officials have resigned, and a state inquiry commission has not yet been established, leaving families still seeking answers. Despite the ongoing conflict, communities in the Western Negev are showing signs of recovery. Over 90% of residents in the Gaza envelope have returned home, with approximately 66,000 people now living in areas like Re'im, Ein HaShlosha, Sufa, Nir Yitzhak, Nativ HaAsara, and Kissufim, an increase of 5,000 compared to the eve of the attack. This trend is also evident in heavily impacted areas like Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where 64 residents were murdered, and its youth neighborhood, where 11 were killed and 7 abducted; 50 out of 300 families have returned, and a struggle is underway to prevent the demolition of the youth neighborhood. Returns to communities like Be'eri and Nir Oz are expected to continue into 2027. Nevertheless, 74% of residents in the Gaza envelope report a worsening mental state since October 7th, and the Eshkol region reports a 23% increase in cancer incidence and a 20% rise in diabetes. While 86% of children attend educational frameworks, only 63% report being able to concentrate in class.