REIM, Israel (AP) – On Wednesday, Israelis gathered to commemorate the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, a tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and saw 251 people taken hostage, igniting a devastating war in Gaza. This conflict has left much of the territory in ruins, with 2 million residents enduring severe hardship.

In southern Israel, families mourned collectively at intersections, bomb shelters, and the site of a music festival that was overtaken by militants three years ago in the deadliest incident in the nation’s history. This anniversary marks the first year since all hostages, both living and deceased, were returned, signifying a new phase of collective grief for those affected.

For Palestinians, the anniversary serves as a dismal reminder of the ongoing hardships following an Israeli retaliatory campaign in Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Many residents now reside in squalid tent camps, with large portions of the territory’s cities reduced to rubble.

Despite a ceasefire agreement reached nearly a year ago, Israeli airstrikes continue almost daily, with more than half of Gaza still under Israeli military control. This day starkly highlights the significant transformation in the region over the past three years, exacerbated by Israeli troops occupying a large area of southern Lebanon amid an ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.

Near Reim, the music festival location, families paid respects to the more than 350 individuals who lost their lives during the attack. Survivors and relatives gathered at 6:29 a.m., the exact moment the first rockets were launched three years prior. Anya Davitashili, who lost her son Sean, expressed her ongoing grief, sharing how she visits the site weekly, feeling a connection to him there.

Elkana Bohbot, a former hostage marking his first Oct. 7 anniversary since his release after 738 days in captivity, described the horrors of his imprisonment. Abducted from the same music festival, he was kept in a dark tunnel and forced into propaganda videos by his captors. Since his release, he has been focusing on rehabilitation and welcomed a new daughter into his family.

While no events were expected in Gaza to mark the anniversary, Hamas issued a statement labeling the Oct. 7 attack an act of “heroism, resilience, and national solidarity,” asserting that it had revived global attention on the Palestinian cause.

Residents in Gaza described a life that has deteriorated beyond imagination over the last three years. Walid Akram, a resident of Gaza City, spoke of the unprecedented levels of death and destruction. Raed Khozeiq, whose neighborhood was mostly destroyed, highlighted the catastrophic changes in daily life, lamenting the absence of essential services.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 74,000 Palestinians have been killed since the onset of the conflict, with approximately half reported to be women and children. Despite a ceasefire effective from October 10, 2025, Israeli strikes have persisted, resulting in the deaths of 1,460 Palestinians in the aftermath. In contrast, seven Israeli soldiers have been killed during this same period, with the ongoing blockade exacerbating a hunger crisis.

The anniversary coincides with a contentious election in Israel set for the end of the month, adding to the somber reflections on this day. Official memorial services were held on October 5, closer to the Hebrew calendar’s anniversary of the attack. These separate commemorations underscore deep political divides, particularly regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the aftermath and his resistance to initiating an inquiry into the events of the attack.

The events of October 7 have triggered a ripple effect throughout the Middle East, leading to further confrontations as Israel engages with Hamas, Hezbollah, and their ally, Iran. The U.S. has also participated in military actions aimed at Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities, complicating global economic stability. Violence has surged in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinians face heightened restrictions from an emboldened Israeli government.

In the memories of all those affected, the echoes of this tragic anniversary carry the weight of loss and the stark realities of life in Israel and Gaza.