Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin marks the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks by detailing the scale of civilian killings, hostage-taking, and the lasting existential rupture they inflicted on Israeli society.

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has reflected on the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks, focusing on the scale of the killings, the abduction of hostages and the profound impact the events have had on Israeli society.

The anniversary comes three years after Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel. More than 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were abducted and taken to Gaza, according to the United Nations. Civilians were among those deliberately targeted, including people killed in their homes, communities and at the Nova music festival. 

The attack became the deadliest day in Israel’s history and left communities along the Gaza border devastated. Families were separated, hundreds were taken hostage and survivors were left dealing with the physical and psychological consequences of the violence.

For Israeli society, the consequences have extended far beyond the immediate loss of life. Three years later, survivors and families of victims continue to commemorate those who died, while communities affected by the attack continue to rebuild. Recent reporting has highlighted the lasting trauma among survivors and the sense of insecurity that remains particularly strong in communities near Gaza. 

The hostage crisis became another defining element of the national trauma. Hundreds of people were taken into Gaza during the attacks, including women, children and elderly people. The United Nations has documented reports of severe mistreatment of hostages during captivity, including torture and sexual violence. 

The events of October 7 also transformed the wider political and security debate in Israel. Questions surrounding the security failures that preceded the attack, the government’s response and the subsequent war have remained central to Israeli public discourse.

Three years on, the consequences are still being felt across the region. Israel’s military response to the attacks resulted in enormous destruction and loss of life in Gaza. Gaza health authorities report that more than 74,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict began, although those figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. 

That wider human cost has made the anniversary a moment of remembrance as well as renewed debate over how the conflict should ultimately end.

For de Villepin, whose career includes serving as France’s foreign minister before becoming prime minister, the anniversary comes amid continued international debate over Israel’s security, Palestinian statehood and the prospects for a lasting political settlement. He has been outspoken since October 7 about the need to address the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Across Israel on October 7, 2026, families gathered at memorial sites to remember those killed. At the Nova festival site, where hundreds died during the attack, relatives and survivors observed the anniversary in silence. Memorial events were also held elsewhere as the country reflected on three years of loss and upheaval. 

The anniversary therefore represents more than a date on the calendar. For many Israelis, October 7 remains a defining national trauma — a day that fundamentally altered perceptions of security and left a lasting mark on the country’s society.

Three years later, the memories of those killed and abducted remain deeply embedded in Israel’s collective consciousness, while the wider conflict continues to shape the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians.