As Israel marks three years since Hamas attacked Israeli on October 7, 2023, Israelis in Jerusalem protested outside the Knesset demanding change in the upcoming elections on the morning of Wednesday (October 7).

Protesters held up banners and fixtures depicting graves, demanding accountability for October 7.

Across Israel and Jerusalem, Israelis marked three years since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering a military assault that destroyed much of Gaza, where conditions remain dire despite a year-old ceasefire that is meant to halt the war for good.

The attacks, during which militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages to Gaza, marked the deadliest day in Israel's history. Israel's subsequent bombardment and ground operations have killed more than 74,000 people in Gaza, health authorities there say.

The anniversary is the first for Israelis without any hostages still held in Gaza, with those dead and alive exchanged in swaps with Hamas for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. The remains of the last Israeli hostage were recovered in January.

It also comes just 20 days ahead of Israel's first election since the attack, a vote that is viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long tenure in power.

Netanyahu has rejected blame for the security breach and resisted calls for an independent investigation. That has frustrated many in Israel, including families of those killed in the attacks, some of whom have joined the election race.

A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute showed that 68% of Jewish Israelis said that the events of October 7 were a very central or fairly central element in their decision of which party to vote for.

Election polls show neither Netanyahu nor his main competitors would muster enough seats in parliament to form a coalition if a vote were held today.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

JERUSALEM (OCTOBER 7, 2026)

1. ISRAELIS PROTESTING IN FRONT OF THE KNESSET IN JERUSALEM HOLDING BANNERS AND TWO INSTALLATIONS THAT LOOK LIKE GRAVES, READING (Hebrew): "WE ARE ALL VICTIMS OF ABANDONMENT"

2. PROTESTERS STANDING WITH BANNERS AND FLAGS

3. BANNER HELD BY PROTESTERS, READING (Hebrew): 'THE PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER 7.10 / ON 27.10' (DATE OF ISRAELI ELECTIONS)

4. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF KNESSET

5. WOMAN WITH TEARS IN HER EYES

6. PLACARD WITH BROKEN HEART

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PROTESTER, LAURA NELSON LEVY, SAYING:

"We came here this morning at 6:29am to remember the massacre that happened and to the country that was shaken like an earthquake, like a volcano, and we are sill trying to recover, we are parents, children. I have six children who served in the army and the navy, and we want a big change to happen in these elections, and believe and hope in the goodness and the amazing resilience of the Israeli people to be able to change this country for better, we know it is there, the question is is to remember what happened, and to try to change in going forward in the elections that are here, and to choose people that will lead us with wisdom and remembrance of the past."

8. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PROTESTER, MATNEL CIECHNOWSKI, SAYING:

"We came here to the Knesset, to the Israeli parliament to protest against the 7th of October, what happened to be a massacre but could have been prevented."

10. VARIOUS OF VEHICLE PULLING CART WHICH HAS MOTORCYCLE ON IT WITH THREE FIGURES DEPICTING OCTOBER 7 HAMAS MILITANTS AND ISRAELI WOMAN BEING KIDNAPPED

11. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PROTESTER, SHAKED ARRAD, SAYING:

"We need the change and we need hope and we need to know that we have a government that cares about the public and doesn't work also only for themselves."

13. PROTESTER WITH MEGAPHONE IN PROTEST

14. STICKER ON MEGAPHONE SHOWING 'OCT 7'