Israel Designates October 7 as National Remembrance Day

Israel’s government announced on Sunday its decision to establish a national remembrance day for the October 7 attack carried out by Hamas, which sparked the conflict in Gaza, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

The commemoration, unanimously endorsed by the government, will include two state ceremonies to honor the “tragedy,” the statement explained. One ceremony will commemorate soldiers who lost their lives in the war, while the other will honor “civilians who were killed in terrorist acts.”

The October 7 attack by Hamas, targeting southern Israel, resulted in approximately 1,160 casualties, primarily civilians, based on figures from Israeli sources compiled by AFP.

In response to the attack, Israel initiated a military operation aimed at eradicating Hamas, resulting in the deaths of at least 31,645 individuals in Gaza, predominantly women and children, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-governed territory.

During the October 7 attack, Palestinian militants abducted approximately 250 Israeli and foreign hostages. While some were released during a week-long ceasefire in November, Israel estimates that around 130 hostages remain in Gaza, including 32 presumed deceased.