At October 7 Memorial, Netanyahu Vows 'No Hamas Rule' in Gaza; Herzog Urges Unity and Promises Probe

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog spoke at a state memorial commemorating the October 7 massacre, delivering stark vows and solemn appeals as Israel marked three years since the attacks.

Netanyahu: No Hamas Rule in Gaza

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that Hamas will not be allowed to govern the Gaza Strip. "There will be no Hamas rule in Gaza. Anyone who was involved in the attack against us and held our hostages is living on borrowed time. Every day, we settle accounts with these despicable murderers," he said, underscoring the government's determination to hold perpetrators accountable.

Herzog: Heed Warnings, Heal Divisions

President Isaac Herzog used his address to warn that Israel cannot ignore warning signs—both external and internal—especially amid deep political divisions. Speaking directly to bereaved families, he said he and his wife Michal have sought daily to honor the lives lost and to learn their stories: "To read about them, to learn the paths of their lives, to hear about their successes, their joys and their dreams, and to come to know the full and varied lives they left behind."

"We will not forget those we lost. We will not relent from our duty to investigate and to correct. And we will not give up on the lives that can still be built here. I believe in us. We will shine again." — President Isaac Herzog

The Nahal Oz Observers

Herzog recounted the story of female observers stationed at the Nahal Oz base on the Gaza border. Some of these soldiers were murdered on October 7, 2023, while others were abducted into Gaza. He described them as "the eyes of the IDF, and of the state"—those who watched, warned and tried to raise the alarm.

Burned out vehicles on Kibbutz Nahal Oz in the aftermath of Hamas's October 7 massacre; illustrative. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Months before the assault, the observers left inscriptions on a shelter wall. Herzog recalled a chilling line written in bright pink: "Look how calmly she walks, as though Gaza were not right next to her." On the morning of October 7, the observers reported terrorists approaching the fence and announced the military code for infiltration, "Turkish Horse." Seven observers were taken hostage; six were returned alive. Cpl. Noa Marciano was named among those who did not survive captivity.

Losses, Aftermath and a Call to Rebuild

Herzog honored the 53 IDF soldiers killed defending Nahal Oz and the hundreds who died across southern Israel during the attacks. He acknowledged the thousands displaced by the conflict and praised efforts to bring hostages home—some returned to rehabilitation and rebuilding, others brought back deceased for burial.

Addressing the country’s political climate ahead of elections, Herzog urged citizens to acknowledge and address internal divisions. "The person who disagrees with you today will live here with you tomorrow as well. Their children will grow up in the same country as your children. They will be called upon to protect it together, and to build its future together," he said, invoking the national anthem and a shared duty to hope and rebuild.

Commitment to Investigation and Memory

Herzog pledged that Israel will investigate failures and take corrective measures while continuing to remember the fallen. He returned to the shelter-wall inscriptions, noting a second, hopeful message: "Everything will be all right. We will shine again." He said those words reflect a love of life that must be carried forward even after the tragedy.

Key facts: Netanyahu's vow to prevent Hamas governance in Gaza; the Nahal Oz observers' warnings and losses; Cpl. Noa Marciano among those killed in captivity; 53 soldiers killed defending Nahal Oz; calls for national unity and probes into failings.