Three Years On: 73,000 Dead, 82% of Gaza in Ruins, and Israel's Economy Is Booming
A somber anniversary marks three years since the October 7 attack sparked the Gaza war, with Israel's economy rebounding while Gaza lies devastated and its children attend school in tents.
Three years after the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, Israelis and Palestinians are marking a somber anniversary under vastly different circumstances, with memorials held across Israel while Gaza's survivors struggle to rebuild lives amid ruins [256709][256357].
The October 7 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilians, making it the deadliest attack in the country's history and triggering the war that continues today [256709][256255]. Memorial sites near the Gaza border have become heavily visited destinations drawing Israelis and Jews from the diaspora [256255].
In Gaza, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli bombs, about 170,000 are wounded, and over 10,000 remain missing, according to figures cited three years into the conflict [256442]. A ceasefire agreed one year ago has not stopped the destruction, with 82 percent of Gaza's infrastructure — roads, schools, homes, and hospitals — now lying in ruins [256442]. New satellite images on Google Maps show the massive scale of damage to homes, businesses, places of worship, and infrastructure, highlighting the severity of the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza's 2.3 million residents [254406].
The economic divide between the two sides has grown stark. Israel's economy has recovered from a brief decline, with GDP expected to grow by 4 percent this year, driven largely by its tech sector and defense startups [256261]. In contrast, Gaza's GDP per capita has fallen by 83 percent, and reconstruction has not yet begun [256261].
Gaza's children are starting a new school year — the first since the ceasefire began — but nearly all school buildings are destroyed or partly damaged, according to the United Nations, so classes are being held in tents [256656]. "Many students are the only survivor in their family," said Islam al-Shami, a school principal [256656].
The World Health Organization warns that health needs remain overwhelming one year into the ceasefire, with nearly two million people requiring care and supplies far below what is needed [256315]. The agency is calling for a constant and uninterrupted flow of aid into the territory, warning that without steady deliveries, the humanitarian situation will not improve [256315].
In Gaza City, a mass funeral was held for 105 people whose bodies were recovered after being buried under rubble for nearly three years [254990]. At markets, more fruits and vegetables are now available, but prices remain too high for most Palestinians to afford [256357].
Meanwhile, Israel is preparing for its first election since the October 7 attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his opponents making the attack a central campaign issue [256241]. Three years later, the worst security failure in Israel's history now threatens to end the career of its longest-serving prime minister [256241].