Commemoration Ceremony Held on Second Anniversary of Hamas Attack

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) hosted a remembrance ceremony at the Nakhal Oz base on Thursday, marking two years since the assault by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.

Among those present were Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the IDF Chief of Staff, and Iska Steinberg, the widow of the late Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, who previously led the Nahal Brigade. At exactly 6:29 a.m. local time—the moment the attack commenced—participants observed a moment of silence to honor the victims from October 7, 2023, as well as those who perished in the subsequent conflict.

Following this, Colonel Ido Kass, who spearheaded the investigation into that day’s events, recounted what unfolded at the Nahal Oz base during the attack.

In addition to the ceremony, the staff members engaged in a panel discussion titled “Remembrance, Responsibility, Heroism, and Hope.” Notable panelists included Cpt. Bar Zonshine, who had commanded and fought in the areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip, along with two former hostages, Chen and Agam Goldstein-Almog.

Zamir addressed the mixed feelings surrounding this day, stating, “We face the shortcomings of October 7 directly and also look forward. We pay our respects to the civilians and service members who bravely sacrificed their lives. Our commitment extends not only to the families of the fallen and the injured but also to the survivors of the POWs. We won’t rest until the last fallen hostage is returned. That’s our moral duty.”

“In our quest, we conducted extensive reviews and reported our findings to the community. We aim to keep studying, assessing, and applying the lessons learned. The IDF is determined not to repeat past mistakes,” he continued. “It is essential for the IDF to move on from the last two years and embrace growth, renewal, and hope.”

Zamir also highlighted the heroism shown amidst that day’s failures, suggesting that those who acted selflessly should be recognized, announcing plans to create a medals commission for this purpose.

Matan Angrest, one of the 20 surviving hostages returned to Israel on Monday, was captured while defending the Nahal Oz base. Testimonies from other hostages revealed that Angrest endured severe mistreatment during his captivity, including starvation and torture. He suffered from asthma, which worsened in the humid conditions of the tunnels.

In an earlier statement made in April 2025, former hostage Ron Krivoi mentioned on Israel’s Channel 12 that Angrest was facing severe abuses at the hands of Hamas. Reports indicated that the interrogation process had begun even while Angrest was still on Israeli soil.

Krivoi noted, “They connected him to a car battery and tried to revive him. They used it to electrocute him. His injuries were so severe that he likely couldn’t even respond during interrogation.”

As of now, all surviving hostages have returned home. However, Hamas has only returned the remains of nine out of the 28 deceased hostages it must repatriate under ceasefire agreements. Among those deceased whose remains are still in Gaza are American citizens Omer Neutra and Itai Chen, with Chen having died while fighting alongside Angrest.