Brief

Three years after Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Israel reflects on casualties and ongoing conflict

CBS News marks the three‑year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and led to a protracted conflict.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:06:19 GMT

Wednesday marks three years since Hamas militants launched a coordinated assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 Israelis, including dozens of Americans, and seizing about 250 hostages, CBS News reported.

What happened

The Oct. 7 attack involved gunmen breaching the border fence, entering Israeli towns and a music festival near the Gaza Strip, and taking hostages. Israeli authorities later confirmed that the death toll exceeded 1,200 and that roughly 250 people were abducted into Gaza.

What the reports add

Holly Williams, reporting from Tel Aviv for CBS News, highlighted the scale of the casualties and the ongoing fear among Israelis three years later. Elizabeth Cook, also for CBS News, focused on the broader regional developments since the attack, noting the continuation of hostilities and the humanitarian toll.

What was said

Holly Williams told CBS News, "There was the constant fear" in the weeks following the Oct. 7 assault, describing the atmosphere in Israeli cities as they grappled with the sudden violence.

How it came about

The Oct. 7 assault sparked Israel’s extensive military campaign in Gaza, which, according to Felo’s earlier coverage, has resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths. The conflict has also prompted international reactions, such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comparison of the Oct. 7 casualties to 16 9/11 attacks in a recent UN speech (Felo). Families continue to mourn, as documented in Felo’s piece on personal memories of the anniversary (Felo), while the IDF revealed details of a tunnel used to kidnap 18 hostages (Felo).

Key facts

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. (cbsnews.com)
Approximately 250 people were taken hostage during the Oct. 7 assault. (cbsnews.com)
Dozens of American citizens were among those killed on Oct. 7. (cbsnews.com)

Timeline

2023-10-07 — Hamas militants launch large‑scale attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages.
2023-10-08 — Israel begins extensive military operations in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attack.
2026-10-07 — CBS News marks three‑year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack.