Israel Holds State Ceremony Commemorating October 7th Attacks

A state ceremony was held on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on October 5th to mark the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre. President Isaac Herzog, in his address, called for an investigation into the failures that led to the attacks, though he did not explicitly call for a state commission. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in contrast, did not mention an investigation in his speech, according to Ynet.

The ceremony was marked by political divisions, with one attendee shouting at Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, "You are not worthy of laying a wreath!" Also present were Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Inspector General of Police Dani Levy, Shin Bet head David Zini, Mossad head Roman Gofman, ministers, and families of the fallen.

President Herzog emphasized the need for a "decisive, bold, and impartial investigation" to understand how the events of October 7th occurred. He highlighted the warnings from female observers at the Nahal Oz base who had reported on Hamas's buildup and preparations, stating, "They were the eyes of the IDF and the state... They saw. They reported. They raised the alarm. But no one put it all together."

Herzog recalled inscriptions left by the observers, including one that read, "Look how calmly she walks, as if Gaza is not nearby," noting its chilling significance in retrospect. He also spoke of the nation's resilience, acknowledging the suffering, displacement, and loss experienced by Israelis, while praising the public's ability to mobilize and help one another.

Addressing societal divisions amidst the ongoing election campaign, the President cautioned against "dangerous disagreements and deep rifts," stressing that while debate is essential, Israelis must remember they will continue to live side-by-side and must build the country's future together.

Prime Minister Netanyahu declared, "We will defend our home from the predators that pursue us, and we will do it together, Jews, Arabs, Druze, Circassians, men and women from other population groups." He characterized the Hamas attack as the "first shot in the Iranian axis's plan to destroy Israel," which he said included plans for nuclear weapons. Netanyahu asserted that Israeli forces had "turned the tide" and eliminated the immediate threat, vowing that Hamas would not rule Gaza and that those holding hostages would be brought to justice.

He also addressed international criticism, stating, "World leaders tell me: 'You have decisively defeated the Islamist terrorists.' And then many add: 'If only we too had such a generation of fighters.' But there are other leaders who want to boycott us. To them I say: 'Israel is fighting for its existence, and there is no more just war. This is the truth, and you should be ashamed of your lies.'

A second ceremony, honoring civilians killed on October 7th, was scheduled to take place at 2:00 PM at the memorial for terror victims on Mount Herzl, with state leaders also in attendance.