Hamas and Hezbollah celebrate October 7 anniversary, calling 2023 attack a historic milestone

Hamas and its ally Hezbollah marked the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel on October 7, 2026, describing the attack as a historic and honourable milestone in the Palestinian struggle.

The public celebration underscores the groups' continued endorsement of violence and poses challenges for Israeli legal actions and broader diplomatic efforts to address the conflict.

In a statement, Hamas hailed the Oct. 7 attack, which it calls “Operation Al‑Aqsa Flood,” as an “extraordinary military achievement in planning, execution, and strategic deception.” The group called the event a turning point that exposed what it described as the occupation’s “Nazi tendencies.”

Hamas also lionised the planners and executors of the attack who were later killed, naming figures such as Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar as “guiding beacons” for the Palestinian people on their path to liberation.

The organization demanded that bodies like the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice arrest and prosecute Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes and genocide.

Hezbollah echoed Hamas’s praise, characterizing the Oct. 7 operation as “courageous, distinctive, justified, and legitimate” and arguing that the attack was a strategic success that shook the world and damaged Israel’s global standing.

Israeli Knesset member Simcha Rothman, chair of the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, said he hoped the first indictments of Palestinians accused of participating in the massacre would be handed down early next year, emphasizing the public’s demand for speedy trials.

Social‑media posts from the anniversary period displayed overt celebration of the attack, with users posting extremist language and praising the deaths of Israeli civilians, highlighting the deep polarization surrounding the event.

Analysts warn that such public glorification of violence threatens any prospect of de‑escalation and complicates efforts toward a negotiated settlement.

International observers continue to monitor the situation as Israel prepares legal proceedings against roughly 300 Palestinian suspects, with the next phase of trials slated to begin in the coming months.