Israeli authorities are warning of an increased risk of attacks against Israelis and Jews around the world as the country marks three years since the attacks of October 7, 2023. Security services are also on heightened alert ahead of the parliamentary elections on October 27.
Israel’s National Security Council warned of an increased threat of attacks in the coming hours, as memorial events are held across the country for the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks.
The day began with a minute’s silence across Israel at 6.29am local time, marking the moment the attack began on October 7, 2023.
Commemorative events are taking place in several areas, including at the site of the Nova music festival, where hundreds of people were killed or abducted.
National Security Council warning
Israel’s National Security Council said the anniversary is regarded as a significant date by terrorist organisations and warned that the risk of attacks has increased.
In a warning published through the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the council said:
“Terrorist organisations, led by Iran and its proxies, Hamas and elements of the global jihadist terrorist movement, view this date as a significant milestone.”
Israeli authorities advised citizens to avoid Jordan, Qatar, Somaliland and Egypt, including the Sinai Peninsula.
Israelis in other countries were advised to avoid speaking Hebrew in crowded public places, stay away from demonstrations and exercise particular caution over what they post on social media.
They were specifically advised not to publish information that could reveal previous service in the Israeli security forces.
Israeli authorities believe anniversary-related demonstrations and large anti-Israel protests, similar to those held in major cities around the world over the previous two years, could increase tensions and risks faced by Israelis and Jews abroad.
IDF, Shin Bet and police on alert
At the same time, senior Israeli security officials held a critical meeting to discuss preparations ahead of the October 27 elections.
The meeting involved Israeli military chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, police commissioner Daniel Levy and Shin Bet chief David Zini.
It was held at Zamir’s office in Tel Aviv and, according to a joint statement, formed part of “preparations for the sensitive period of the coming weeks” ahead of the elections.
According to the Times of Israel, the latest assessments and intelligence regarding the situation along Israel’s borders and within the country were presented during the meeting.
Measures aimed at “strengthening and improving defence, combating terrorist organisations and tackling crime” were also discussed.
The three security chiefs said they had agreed on a series of measures that would draw on “the comparative advantage of each organisation to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the upcoming elections”.
Netanyahu warns of possible pre-election attack
The security meeting came one day after Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting that Hamas could attempt to attack Israel before the elections in an effort to influence the result.
The Israeli prime minister said the country was prepared for such a possibility.
The upcoming election will be the first since the October 7 attack and the first since the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence applications such as ChatGPT.
Israeli authorities are concerned that the technology could provide malicious actors with greater capacity to spread false information and intensify social tensions stemming from the attack.
Hamas and other organisations are not the only sources of concern.
Shin Bet is responsible for confronting foreign threats to the integrity of the election, while, according to Haaretz, responsibility for dealing with domestic threats, including influence campaigns using AI-powered automated accounts, has been left to the police.
Three years since October 7
The anniversary recalls the attack of October 7, 2023, when thousands of armed members of Hamas and other groups crossed from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel and attacked communities, military installations and the Nova festival.
Around 1,200 people were killed, while 251 were abducted and taken to Gaza.
The attack triggered Israel’s subsequent large-scale military operation in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 74,200 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli military operation began.
Of the 251 people abducted on October 7, 168 were released or rescued, while 83 died.
In January 2026, the body of Master Sgt Ran Gvili, the final hostage remaining in Gaza, was returned to Israel.
Gvili was killed while fighting Hamas on October 7 and his body remained in Gaza for 843 days.
Following the return of his remains, no Israeli hostages remained in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu said at the time:
“We promised, and I promised, to bring them all back. We brought them all back, down to the very last hostage.”
Source: iefimerida
