Israel Commemorates Victims of October 7th Attacks

State ceremonies marking three years since the October 7th massacre began Monday at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. The events were attended by President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Police Commissioner Dani Levi, and other senior officials.

The state memorial ceremony for fallen IDF soldiers and security forces began first, followed by a ceremony for the victims of the massacre at 2:00 PM. At 6:29 AM, national flags were lowered to half-mast at the Knesset.

The ceremony for war casualties opened with a performance by a military band of Liran Danino's song "If Tomorrow I Die." The parents of Sergeant Shir Biton, who fell on October 7th at the Nachal Oz outpost, spoke at the event. The ceremony was hosted by the father of Sergeant Rif Harush, who fell in battle in southern Gaza in 2024, and the widow of First Lieutenant Ivri Dickstein, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon the same year.

Three years after the massacre itself, ceremonies, memorials, displays, and protest events will take place across the country on Wednesday. Commemorative events will begin with a moment of silence at 6:29 AM, the time of the Hamas attack's commencement, with ceremonies in Caesarea, Jerusalem, Sha'ar HaNegev, and dozens of other locations. At 12:00 PM, a national moment of remembrance, initiated by the "October Council" and civilian protest organizations, will involve hundreds of local authorities, public institutions, hospitals, educational institutions, companies, and businesses. No national siren will sound as part of this initiative.

A national memorial ceremony is scheduled for 9:15 PM in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, with tens of thousands of people expected to attend.