WorldPosted at: Oct 7 2026 6:17PM


Israel marks third anniversary of Oct 7 Hamas terror attack, Netanyahu's handling of security lapse to be focal agenda of elections

Jerusalem, Oct 7 (UNI) Israel is marking three years since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the country's worst security failure set to be a central issue in the October 27 election.
Netanyahu, who himself became a very polarising figure post the war, came under intense pressure after the attacks but has remained in power through years of war and a prolonged state of emergency.
He continues to face criticism for refusing to accept personal responsibility or support an independent inquiry into the failures that preceded the assault. At the same time, Netanyahu also enjoys considerable support due to his strong image as an uncompromising war-time leader, leading to strong division.
Almost all senior national security officials who were in office at the time have since left their positions. Netanyahu remains in office. His main challenger, former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, lost his son and two nephews during the Gaza war. As per sources close to Eisenkot, replacing Netanyahu is central to his campaign.
While Netanyahu has blamed what he called the "deep state", allies and members of his family claim that Jerusalem's security leadership withheld information from him.
Netanyahu has said senior security officials kept him unaware of warnings before the attack and suggested he could have prevented the massacre had he been alerted.
Recent reports have raised questions over what warnings Netanyahu received. Haaretz reported that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu days before October 7 that Hamas was preparing a major operation.
Three sources familiar with the matter told Axios that UAE intelligence had issued a general warning to Israeli counterparts and that bin Zayed spoke directly with Netanyahu to ensure he received it.
The New York Times also reported on the warning, while The Atlantic and Wall Street Journal reported that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel had issued a similar warning. Netanyahu has denied receiving warnings from either the UAE or Egypt and has sued media outlets and journalists that reported the claims.
The past three years since October 7 have also given Netanyahu multiple opportunities to rebuild his standing among Israelis, many of who viewed him as a strong leader in the post-Gaza conflicts.
Following its war with Hamas, Israel also got embroiled in a war with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and fought two wars with Iran during the period.
Recent polling puts Netanyahu's Likud party at about 20-22 Knesset seats, down from 32, while his right-wing bloc is projected to win 50-54 seats, below the 61 needed for a majority.
The opposition could also struggle to form a government without support from Arab-Israeli parties, which are projected to win a combined 12-14 seats.
Channel 14, which is supportive of Netanyahu, has produced a different projection, putting his coalition at 63 seats.
Netanyahu has pressured opposition rivals to rule out forming a coalition with Arab-Israeli parties, potentially complicating efforts by Eisenkot to assemble a governing majority.
A possible outcome is a hung Knesset, with Netanyahu remaining as caretaker prime minister until another election.
The election could also affect Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, as losing office would remove some of his political influence over the proceedings, while another victory could allow him to argue that voters had endorsed him despite the case.
US President Donald Trump could also influence the campaign, although he has so far stopped short of endorsing Netanyahu.
Asked repeatedly by Time magazine whether he supported the Israeli prime minister, Trump avoided a direct answer and said he did not believe reports that bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu.
Trump has privately blamed Netanyahu for some of the failures surrounding October 7, according to people familiar with his comments, and has questioned the impact of Netanyahu's policies on Israel's international standing. The two leaders have nevertheless remained closely aligned on several regional security issues.
Netanyahu's standing has also suffered considerable damage however, as Israelis also held protests, marches and demonstrations across the country on Wednesday alongside memorial ceremonies marking the third anniversary of the attacks, expressing their anger over the security lapses that caused the deadly terror attack.
Many called for greater accountability from government officials and a state commission of inquiry into the events leading up to October 7.
Demonstrations were held outside the Knesset in Jerusalem and outside the homes of several ministers, including Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Education Minister Yoav Kisch.
At Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, protesters dyed fountain water red to represent blood, while hundreds of painted bodies were laid out on the sand at Trumpeldor Beach to represent those killed in the attacks.
Another major demonstration involved a convoy travelling from Caesarea to Tel Aviv along the route Netanyahu took on October 7, 2023.
The October Council, which represents bereaved families, survivors and hostage families, urged Israelis to join memorial events and protests demanding a state commission of inquiry.
"Three years have passed, yet the truth has still not been fully investigated," the council said.
"We - the bereaved families, survivors of captivity, families of the hostages, and survivors of the massacre - ask the Israeli public today to stand with us: to remember, to demand answers, and to ensure that lessons are learned."
The council said the issue would also be central to the election campaign, asking whether Israel would investigate the failures surrounding October 7 and implement changes or leave what it described as major unanswered questions.
The US-backed Board of Peace also marked the anniversary, mourning those killed and abducted in the attacks while acknowledging the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians during the war that followed.
"We remember those murdered and taken from us, and we will not allow their loss to be forgotten," the board said in a statement on X.
It also referred to the "immense loss of life and profound suffering endured by Israelis and Palestinians in the war unleashed by Hamas on October 7", saying the conflict had left "deep wounds across the region".
The board praised Trump's "commitment to the people of Israel" and his role in securing the return of the remaining hostages in Gaza last year. It said it would use its UN Security Council mandate to advance Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, including what it described as the Strip's "demilitarisation and deradicalisation".
"Genuine and durable security for Israel is the foundation on which any peace must be built, and it is the surest guarantee that no October 7 will ever happen again," the board said.
Israel's election will take place a week before the US midterm elections. A change in control of Congress could trigger renewed debate over US arms sales to Israel and its annual $3.8 billion in US military assistance, with Netanyahu's political position potentially shaping those discussions.
UNI ANV CDS
Tags: #Israel marks third anniversary of Oct 7 Hamas terror attack# Netanyahu's handling of security lapse to be focal agenda of elections
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