Netanyahu vows no Hamas rule in Gaza at Oct. 7 memorial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday that Hamas would not rule the Gaza Strip, speaking at a state memorial ceremony marking three years since the militant group’s October 7, 2023 attack. Monday was designated a national day of remembrance for the deadliest day in Israel’s history, with flags lowered to half-mast on public buildings.

Speaking at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Netanyahu stated that "we have achieved enormous accomplishments, but there are still missions ahead of us, and we intend to complete them." He added, "There will be no Hamas rule in Gaza," and vowed to continue targeting anyone involved in the attack or who held hostages, stating they are "living on borrowed time."

President Isaac Herzog also addressed the ceremony, paying tribute to the young female field observers stationed at the Nahal Oz outpost near the Gaza border. He described them as "the eyes of the IDF and of the state" who sensed something was brewing in the months before the attack but whose warnings were not pieced together into a full picture. Herzog recounted their calm and brave reporting on the morning of the attack, noting that 53 soldiers died defending the outpost.

Herzog also cautioned against internal threats and divisions within Israel, urging Israelis to remember their shared future even amid disagreements. He reflected on the past three years as a period of devastating loss and extraordinary resilience, highlighting the nation's ability to help one another and bring hostages home.

The Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also dragged 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of whom were already dead. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza.