Israel on Thursday marked 1,000 days since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack with nationwide memorial events and renewed demands for an independent state commission of inquiry into the deadliest assault in the country’s history.
Commemorations began at 6:29 a.m. local time, the exact moment Hamas launched its surprise attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. Alongside the memorials, protesters gathered across the country, criticizing the government’s handling of the attack and its aftermath.
The Hamas-led assault killed 1,221 people in Israel, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, while 251 hostages were taken into Gaza.
Israel’s military response has since resulted in the deaths of more than 73,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, whose casualty figures are regarded as reliable by the United Nations. Following a ceasefire that took effect on October 10 last year, the ministry says at least 1,053 Palestinians have been killed, while the Israeli military reports the loss of five soldiers and one civilian contractor during the same period.
Israeli forces currently control nearly 70 percent of Gaza, according to available estimates.
The October Council, a group representing families of victims and hostages, organised many of Thursday’s events, including gatherings outside the Israeli parliament and the homes of government officials.
“The families of the hostages and the bereaved families are demanding the establishment of a state commission of inquiry now,” the group said in a statement posted on X.
In Tel Aviv, the iconic Hostages Square, which became the focal point of campaigns demanding the captives’ release, was temporarily renamed Memory Square as part of the day’s remembrance activities.
A major memorial event is also scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at Yarkon Park, bringing together victims’ families and prominent figures from Israel’s anti-government protest movement.
Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said the anniversary serves as a reminder of the military’s responsibility.
“This day reminds us of our overall responsibility and the weight that rests on our shoulders. We remember, we learn, and we prepare for the continuation of combat and the many challenges still ahead,” he said in a statement.
Former army chief and opposition figure Gadi Eizenkot, widely viewed as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the elections expected in October, also marked the occasion with a brief message on X.
“1,000 days. We will still prove ourselves worthy. I promise. Gadi,” he wrote.
Opinion polls indicate broad public support across Israel’s political spectrum for an independent investigation into the failures that allowed the October 7 attack to occur. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has consistently rejected calls to establish a state commission of inquiry, despite Israel’s history of launching such investigations after major national crises.
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