Israel observes three-year memorial for Oct. 7 attack and Swords of Iron war

President Isaac Herzog lowered the Israeli flag to half-mast at 6:29 a.m. on Oct 5, marking the third anniversary of the Oct 7 terror assault and the ensuing Swords of Iron war.

9 outlets3 min read7m agoImportance 4/10

Israel is observing the three‑year anniversary of the Oct 7 massacre, the Hamas‑led assault that killed roughly 1,200 people, injured thousands and abducted 251 hostages. The date, Tishrei 24 on the Hebrew calendar, is recognized as a day of national remembrance. A 47‑minute documentary produced by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit compiles graphic footage captured on militants’ GoPro cameras and civilians’ phones, showing killings, burns, rapes and other atrocities. Controlled viewings of the film have been arranged for national and foreign journalists, diplomats and Hollywood executives.

How this was covered

The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words

Why it matters

The anniversary and the documentary’s evidence shape public understanding of the Oct 7 attack and its aftermath.

How the sides frame it

LOW AGREEMENT

The camps focus on different aspects of the three-year anniversary: Left-leaning coverage highlights the official state ceremony at Mount Herzl, centrist coverage emphasizes families of victims entering the election to heal the nation, while right-leaning coverage centers on solemn remembrance of victims and condemns anti-Israel activism.

LEFT

Covers the state-sanctioned memorial ceremony and Netanyahu’s attendance as the primary national response.

CENTER

Frames the anniversary through the lens of victims’ families seeking political office to promote healing.

RIGHT

Portrays the anniversary as a solemn remembrance of all victims and a warning against anti-Israel/antisemitic actions.

The left emphasises

official memorial services on Mount Herzl
prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in attendance
state ceremony marking three years since the Oct. 7 massacre

The right emphasises

National Remembrance Day with flag lowered to half-mast at the minute the attack began
honors all victims - women, men, children, the elderly, civilians and soldiers
condemns anti-Israel rallies and campus antisemitism as morally intolerable

How this story developed

Sep 3 Netanyahu urges fragmented right-wing parties to merge ahead of October election
Sep 19 Netanyahu pledged legislation to strip citizenship from those who “defame” soldiers.
Sep 23 Israel's Central Elections Committee barred the Joint List from the upcoming Knesset election, prompting the alliance to label the move racist and vow a Supreme Court appeal.
Sep 24 The electoral commission has acted on two Arab party lists.
Sep 24 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the UN General Assembly that the international community must accelerate the US-backed Gaza peace plan and prevent a repeat of the 1948 displacement.
Sep 24 The United States denied visas to Abbas and other Palestinian officials for a second consecutive year, forcing a video address to the UN.
Sep 26 The film’s worldwide theatrical rollout began late September and a free online streaming launch was announced for November.
Sep 27 Netanyahu publicly urged right‑wing parties to merge ahead of the election.
Sep 30 Herzog’s flag-lowering ceremony coincided with the national day of remembrance for the Oct 7 massacre, which claimed about 1,200 lives and sparked the Swords of Iron conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is slated to attend back-to-back state services on Mount Herzl honoring fallen soldiers and terror victims. The Israel Defense Forces held a minute of silence at Zikim base, where Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reflected on the tragedy and the military’s response. Later, Herzog will host a “Salon Otef” discussion featuring Omri Miran, who was released from Hamas captivity in 2025.
Oct 2 The Central Elections Committee voted 18-5 to bar the United Arab List and the Joint List from the ballot.
Oct 2 Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy following the court's indication it may approve a disqualification petition.
Oct 2 A trailer for NAZA was released, revealing soldier testimonies and the film’s title origin.
Oct 5 Controlled viewings of the graphic documentary have been held for journalists, diplomats and Hollywood executives.

In this story