Israel Marks Three Years Since Oct. 7 Attack as Gaza Truce Stalls Over Hamas Disarmament and Israeli Withdrawal
Israel says its troops will stay in Gaza until Hamas's disarmament is verified. Hamas says it is committed to the Trump-brokered ceasefire and accuses Israel of breaking it. Israel votes on Oct. 27.
Three Years On, a Ceasefire That Neither Side Will Call Over
On Oct. 7, 2026, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park. They marked three years since Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel[1][13]. The attack killed about 1,200 people. Another 251 were taken hostage[1][2].
The night before, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for the Gaza ceasefire to "become permanent." He also asked for aid "at scale"[2][3]. Hamas put out its own statement. It praised the 2023 attack, said it remains committed to the ceasefire, and accused Israel of violating it[4][5].
Both sides say they back a truce. Yet people are still dying, and the war is not over.
A truce that lowered the fighting but didn't end it
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in October 2025. It ended major combat[1]. Deadly strikes have continued.
Gaza's Health Ministry says about 1,460 people have been killed since the truce began[4]. The ministry is part of Gaza's Hamas-run government. Its count doesn't separate civilians from fighters. It puts the war's total at more than 74,000 dead[1].
Israel says its strikes target militants and threats to its troops[11]. Israeli troops still control most of Gaza[1]. Hamas hasn't disarmed.
Other parts of the deal are also undone. An international stabilization force hasn't deployed. A planned Palestinian technocratic government, meaning one run by appointed experts rather than factions, hasn't taken effective control[1]. Reconstruction is stalled with them[13].
Who moves first
The dispute is about order. Each side holds one thing the other wants. Hamas has its weapons. Israel has its troops on the ground. Whoever gives up its card first loses its bargaining power.
Israel's case starts with its own history. It pulled out of Gaza in 2005. Hamas later took power there and built the arsenal used on Oct. 7. So Israel says withdrawal must follow proof of disarmament, not a promise of it. The key word is "verified," meaning an independent party confirms the weapons are gone.
Israel also points to a report from the Wall Street Journal. A Hamas official told the paper the group had agreed only to store its weapons in a supervised facility[12][13]. To Israel, stored weapons can be retrieved. That doesn't count as disarming.
Hamas sees it the other way. It says it accepted the Trump-brokered deal and still honors it[4]. It says Israel is rewriting the order of steps. The plan from Trump's Board of Peace linked phased Israeli pullbacks to phased decommissioning of weapons[11].
Demanding full disarmament first, Hamas argues, asks it to surrender its only leverage while an army stays in place. Hamas favors gradual disarmament over an immediate, one-sided handover[1].
The August rejection
The sequencing fight came to a head on Aug. 9. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a 15-point plan from the Board of Peace. He said Israeli forces would "not withdraw at all until Hamas is genuinely disarmed"[9][10][11].
The plan would have tied Israeli withdrawals in stages to Hamas giving up weapons in stages. Netanyahu's rejection strained ties with Washington[18]. Hamas official Ghazi Hamad says the U.S. "can force" Israel to comply but is "watching silently"[15].
The Trump administration frames the remaining steps as a negotiation, not a collapse. It says its deal ended the war's worst phase and freed the hostages. In July, Trump announced that Hamas and other armed groups had agreed to fully disarm and that Israel would withdraw[13][16]. A Hamas negotiator said at the end of July that there was no agreement on disarming[12].
On the anniversary, Trump called Oct. 7 "a horrible tragedy." He said he had spoken with Netanyahu[16]. Washington's attention is also split by a confrontation with Iran, which limits the pressure it can apply in Gaza[16]. Hamas condemned the Board of Peace's Oct. 7 statement as "racist and biased"[17].
An election and a question about warnings
The anniversary falls under three weeks before Israel's Oct. 27 election. It is the first national vote since the attack[7]. Netanyahu's rivals say he ignored warnings before Oct. 7 and should face a state inquiry. Gadi Eisenkot says the warnings included reported ones from the UAE and Egypt. He calls Netanyahu "unfit" for office. Netanyahu denies receiving them[7][14].
The polls are tight. Likud is at roughly 19-22 seats, down from 32 in 2022. Netanyahu's bloc is at roughly 49-54 seats, short of the 61 needed to govern[7][14]. Recent polls generally put Eisenkot's Yashar party narrowly ahead of Likud, at roughly 23-24 seats to 19-21. An i24NEWS poll showed Netanyahu's bloc strengthening[14].
This matters for Gaza. Netanyahu faces voters with his Oct. 7 record under attack. A concession on withdrawal would be politically costly before the vote. The opposition, for its part, wants to unseat him.
Guterres framed the issue differently. He called the Hamas attack "abhorrent." He said Palestinians' "suffering, too, demands an end, now." The truce, he said, "brought some relief" but hasn't delivered "security, adequate humanitarian assistance or a credible path to recovery and peace"[2][3]. Israel has long accused parts of the U.N. system of bias, which limits the U.N.'s leverage[2].
Same anniversary, different stories
Outlets chose different parts of this to tell. The Associated Press set Israeli grief beside Gaza's toll and laid out both sides' disarmament positions. Its use of "assault" in the headline leans slightly toward Gaza's framing[1].
Fox News turned the day into a story about U.S. "anti-Israel rallies" and "intifada" chants. The ceasefire dispute and casualties were largely absent[16]. The Washington Post made Netanyahu the subject who "rejects" the plan. Hamas's refusal to hand over weapons came later in the story[9].
Axios and other U.S. outlets focused on Netanyahu's "reckoning" over Oct. 7. The word presumes accountability is coming. His denial comes after the claims[7].
Al Jazeera, which is funded by Qatar, puts "ceasefire" in scare quotes and leads with Palestinians killed since the truce[6]. Qatar hosts Hamas's political office and mediates the talks. Xinhua and RTÉ led with Guterres's call for a permanent ceasefire[2][3]. The Hamas-aligned Palestinian Information Center relayed Hamad's remarks without challenge[15].
Each framing contains accurate points. Each leaves out the other side's strongest one.
What stays open is who can verify disarmament. The stabilization force meant to do that hasn't arrived[1]. Without it, neither side can prove the other is complying, and the vote on Oct. 27 comes first.
Summary
Israelis marked three years on Oct. 7 since Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel. The attack killed about 1,200 people, and 251 were taken hostage[1]. Israel's military campaign in Gaza that followed has killed more than 74,000 people, according to Gaza's Health Ministry[1]. The ministry is part of Gaza's Hamas-run government. Its count does not separate civilians from fighters.
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in October 2025. It ended major combat, but deadly strikes have not stopped[1]. Gaza's Health Ministry says about 1,460 people have been killed since the truce began[4]. Israel says its strikes target militants and threats to its troops. Key parts of the deal remain undone. Hamas has not disarmed. An international stabilization force has not deployed. A planned Palestinian technocratic government has not taken effective control of Gaza[1].
The core dispute is about sequence: who moves first. Israel still controls most of Gaza. It says its soldiers will not leave until Hamas's disarmament is verified[1]. Hamas says it remains committed to the Trump-brokered deal and accuses Israel of not honoring it[4]. Hamas favors gradual disarmament over an immediate, one-sided handover of its weapons[1]. In August, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a new 15-point plan from Trump's Board of Peace. That plan linked phased Israeli withdrawals to Hamas giving up its weapons in phases[9][10].
The anniversary falls under three weeks before Israel's Oct. 27 election. It is the first national vote since the attack[7]. Rivals say Netanyahu ignored warnings before the attack and should face a state inquiry. He denies receiving the reported warnings[7]. On Oct. 6, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for the ceasefire to 'become permanent'[2][3].
The Event
On Oct. 7, 2026, Israel held memorials marking three years since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023. Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park for a civilian ceremony[1][13]. On the eve of the anniversary, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for a permanent Gaza ceasefire and aid 'at scale'[2][3]. Hamas issued a statement praising the 2023 attack. The statement also said Hamas remains committed to the ceasefire and accused Israel of violating it[4][5].
Undisputed Facts
- The Oct. 7, 2023 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel, and 251 people were taken hostage[1][2].
- A U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced in October 2025 halted major fighting in Gaza[1].
- Israeli troops still control most of Gaza, and Hamas has not disarmed[1].
- An international stabilization force has not deployed, and the proposed technocratic Palestinian administration has not taken effective control of Gaza[1].
- On Aug. 9, 2026, Netanyahu rejected a 15-point plan issued by Trump's Board of Peace. He said Israeli forces would 'not withdraw at all until Hamas is genuinely disarmed'[9][10][11].
- Gaza's Health Ministry reports more than 74,000 people killed during the war, including about 1,460 since the ceasefire began[1][4].
- Israel's Knesset election is set for Oct. 27, 2026[7][14].
The Pressure
Strip away the moralizing and blame. What structural realities persist regardless of which narrative wins?
- The sequencing trap
- Each side's leverage is the thing the other wants first. Hamas's leverage is its weapons. Israel's leverage is its troops holding territory. Whoever moves first loses its bargaining chip. That is why the Board of Peace plan tried phased, linked steps, and why Israel rejected phasing in favor of disarmament first[9][11].
- Who verifies
- 'Verified' disarmament needs a trusted inspector on the ground. The international stabilization force meant to do that has not deployed[1]. Without it, neither side can prove the other's compliance.
- Electoral clock
- Netanyahu faces voters on Oct. 27 with Likud trailing Yashar in most recent polls and with pressure over Oct. 7. A concession on withdrawal is politically costly before that vote[7][14].
- U.S. bandwidth
- Washington's attention is split with an Iran confrontation, which limits the pressure it puts on either party in Gaza[16].
Material realityIsraeli troops hold most of Gaza. Hamas keeps an unknown arsenal and has offered at most supervised storage of its weapons[1][12][13]. Strikes continue. The Health Ministry counts about 1,460 dead since the truce[4]. Reconstruction, the stabilization force and the technocratic government are all on hold[1]. The ceasefire has lowered the intensity of the war but has not ended it.
Narrative as a weaponNetanyahu's government stresses an armed Hamas as the main obstacle and verification as a security necessity. Hamas and Al Jazeera, which is funded by Qatar (host of Hamas's political office and a mediator), stress a 'ceasefire' in which Palestinians are still killed and a U.S. that has not enforced its own deal. The U.N. frames the issue around humanitarian law and a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu's Israeli rivals, and several U.S. center-left outlets, stress accountability for pre-attack warnings. U.S. right-leaning outlets emphasize antisemitism and protests at home. Each framing contains accurate points and leaves out the other side's strongest one.
How Each Side Sees It
Each major actor’s view — how it frames things, its underlying incentive, and how it’s materially affected. Tap a side to read it.
Frames it asIsrael's case: an armed Hamas that survives a withdrawal will rebuild and strike again. Israel points to its own history. It pulled out of Gaza in 2005, and Hamas later took over and built up the arsenal used on Oct. 7. So Israel says withdrawal must follow proof of disarmament, not a promise of it. Its key word is 'verified,' meaning someone independent confirms the weapons are gone. A Hamas official told the Wall Street Journal the group had agreed only to store its weapons in a supervised facility, not hand them over[12][13]. To Israel, stored weapons can be retrieved, so that offer does not count. Israel says its strikes since the truce target militants and threats to its forces[11].
WhyIsrael wants to prevent another Oct. 7 and keep freedom of military action in Gaza. Netanyahu also faces an election that rivals cast as a referendum on his Oct. 7 record[7][14].
Impact on themNetanyahu's rejection of Trump's plan strained ties with Washington[18]. Recent polls put Likud at roughly 19-22 seats, down from 32 in 2022, and his bloc at roughly 49-54 seats, short of the 61 needed to govern[7][14].
Frames it asHamas's case: it accepted the Trump-brokered deal and says it is still committed to it[4]. In its view, Israel keeps killing Palestinians during a 'ceasefire.' It cites the Health Ministry's roughly 1,460 dead since the truce began[4]. It says Israel is rewriting the deal's order of steps. The Board of Peace plan linked phased Israeli pullbacks to phased decommissioning of weapons[11]. Hamas says demanding total disarmament first asks it to give up its only leverage while an occupying army stays. Hamas official Ghazi Hamad says Washington 'can force' Israel to comply but is 'watching silently'[15]. Hamas calls the Oct. 7 attack a response to decades of Israeli aggression[4].
WhyHamas wants to survive as an armed and political force and keep a role in Gaza's future. It wants Israeli troops out before it gives up meaningful military capacity[1][12].
Impact on themWhile disarmament stalls, Gaza's reconstruction and promised benefits under the Trump plan stay blocked[13]. Gaza's population lives with continued strikes and limited aid[2][6].
Frames it asThe U.N. argues that only a permanent ceasefire, aid at scale and respect for international law can break the cycle. Guterres called the Hamas attack 'abhorrent.' He said Palestinians' 'suffering, too, demands an end, now.' He said the truce 'brought some relief' but has not delivered 'security, adequate humanitarian assistance or a credible path to recovery and peace'[2][3].
WhyThe U.N. wants to protect civilians, expand humanitarian access and revive a two-state political track[2].
Impact on themU.N. agencies carry much of Gaza's aid burden. Israel has long accused parts of the U.N. system of bias, which limits the U.N.'s leverage over Israel[2].
Frames it asThe administration's case: its deal ended the war's worst phase and freed the hostages. It says the remaining steps are a negotiation, not a collapse. In July, Trump announced that Hamas and other armed groups had agreed to fully disarm and that Israel would withdraw[13][16]. On the anniversary, Trump called Oct. 7 'a horrible tragedy' and said he had spoken with Netanyahu[16].
WhyIt wants to protect a signature foreign-policy achievement and keep the Gaza front quiet while a confrontation with Iran is under way[16].
Impact on themWashington is caught between its own plan and its closest ally's rejection of that plan's order of steps[9][18]. Hamas condemned the Board of Peace's Oct. 7 statement as 'racist and biased'[17].
Frames it asThe opposition's case: a democracy must account for its worst security failure. Gadi Eisenkot says Netanyahu 'ignored' warnings, including reported warnings from the UAE and Egypt, and is 'unfit' for office. He pledges an independent state commission of inquiry. Netanyahu denies receiving those warnings[7][14].
WhyIt wants to unseat Netanyahu on Oct. 27[7].
Impact on themRecent polls generally put Eisenkot's Yashar party narrowly ahead of Likud, at roughly 23-24 seats to 19-21. The blocs are close, and an i24NEWS poll showed Netanyahu's bloc strengthening[14].
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The Bias Ledger average rating 4.7
The same story, as framed by outlets across the spectrum, ordered least to most biased. The bias score (1 = straight, 10 = heavily spun) is an AI assessment of that framing — click an outlet to see its track record. The tell is the word choice or omission that reveals the angle.
| Outlet | Vantage | Bias | How they frame it | The tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associated Press | U.S. center | 2 | Israelis mark three years since Hamas attack that set off Gaza assault | It sets Israeli grief alongside Gaza's toll and lays out each side's disarmament position. The word 'assault' leans slightly toward Gaza's framing. |
| Xinhua | Chinese state | 3 | UN chief calls for permanent Gaza ceasefire | It relays the U.N. statement plainly. Choosing the U.N. call as the anniversary story fits Beijing's multilateral line. |
| The Washington Post | U.S. center-left | 4 | Netanyahu rejects Trump-backed plan for Hamas to disarm, Israel to leave Gaza | Making Netanyahu the subject who 'rejects' casts Israel as the spoiler. Hamas's refusal to hand over weapons comes later in the story. |
| Axios | U.S. center | 4 | 3 years later, Netanyahu faces reckoning over Oct. 7 in Israeli election | 'Reckoning' presumes accountability is coming. Netanyahu's denial is noted but comes after the claims. |
| Fox News | U.S. right | 6 | Anti-Israel rallies mark Oct. 7 anniversary with intifada chants | It turns the anniversary into a U.S. culture-war story about protesters. The Gaza ceasefire dispute and casualties are largely absent. |
| Al Jazeera | Qatari state-funded | 6 | Journalist among eight people killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza | Scare quotes around 'ceasefire' and the phrase 'Israel continues to violate' state one side's accusation as fact. |
| Palestinian Information Center | Hamas-aligned | 8 | Ghazi Hamad: Washington can force Israel to uphold Gaza ceasefire but is watching silently | It calls Israel 'the occupation' and relays Hamas officials without challenge. |
References
- Israelis mark three years since Hamas attack that set off Gaza assault — Associated Press · U.S. wire service, nonprofit cooperative; mainstream center
- Calls for Gaza ceasefire ahead of 7 October anniversary — RTÉ · Irish public broadcaster; Ireland's government is among Europe's most critical of Israel
- UN chief calls for permanent Gaza ceasefire — Xinhua · Chinese state news agency, controlled by the Chinese Communist Party
- Israelis mourn on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 as Palestinians grapple with war it sparked — NPR · U.S. public radio (carrying AP reporting); center-left audience
- Israelis mourn on 3rd anniversary of Oct. 7 attacks as Palestinians grapple with war it sparked — CBC · Canadian public broadcaster (carrying AP reporting)
- Journalist among eight people killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza — Al Jazeera · Funded by the government of Qatar, which hosts Hamas's political office and mediates the talks
- 3 years later, Netanyahu faces reckoning over Oct. 7 in Israeli election — Axios · U.S. digital outlet, center; strong Israeli political sourcing
- Netanyahu rejects Trump-backed plan for Hamas to disarm, Israel to leave Gaza — The Washington Post · U.S. center-left; owned by Jeff Bezos
- Israel rejects Trump's Gaza peace plan, saying no withdrawal until Hamas disarms — CNN · U.S. center-left cable network
- Netanyahu Says Israel Rejects Trump's Gaza Peace Plan, IDF Won't Withdraw Until Hamas Disarms — Haaretz · Israeli left-liberal daily, critical of Netanyahu
- Hamas Negotiator: No Agreement on Disarming; Israel Yet to Respond to Gaza Deal — Haaretz · Israeli left-liberal daily, critical of Netanyahu
- Hamas refuses to disarm, demands Board of Peace change Gaza ceasefire plan — The Jerusalem Post · Israeli center-right daily (relaying Wall Street Journal reporting)
- Israel election poll: Gadi Eisenkot leads as Benjamin Netanyahu, opposition blocs tied — The Jerusalem Post · Israeli center-right daily
- Ghazi Hamad: Washington can force Israel to uphold Gaza ceasefire but is watching silently — Palestinian Information Center · Hamas-aligned Palestinian outlet
- Donald Trump, world leaders mourn third anniversary of Oct. 7 massacre — The Jerusalem Post · Israeli center-right daily
- Hamas official condemns Peace Council's 7th October statement as 'racist and biased' — Middle East Monitor · London-based, pro-Palestinian; sympathetic to Muslim Brotherhood-aligned movements
- Israel rejects Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, stoking tensions with US — Al Jazeera · Funded by the government of Qatar