October 7 Anniversary Marks Three Years Since Hamas Attacks
The Facts
Three years have passed since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered an ongoing conflict that has left Gaza in widespread devastation. The anniversary has prompted commemorations and protests in multiple countries, including the United States, while hostages taken during the attacks have continued to share their experiences. The events of that day are widely described as having had lasting consequences for Israeli politics, regional dynamics, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
How different outlets are framing this
Fox News coverage of the anniversary focuses predominantly on two angles: domestic protest activity framed in a negative light, emphasising chants of 'long live the intifada' and characterising rallies as celebrations of the Hamas attack; and the personal suffering of Israeli victims, including a freed hostage and a Nova festival survivor. This framing centres Israeli and American Jewish experiences of trauma while positioning pro-Palestinian demonstrators as antagonists. The emotional testimony of figures like Mike Waltz reinforces a narrative of Israeli victimhood and Western solidarity.
Al Jazeera takes a broader geopolitical and analytical approach, examining how October 7 has reshaped Israeli society and politics — including what it describes as a 'far-right lurch' — and situating the anniversary within a longer arc of consequence for Israel's domestic and international standing. This framing treats October 7 as a transformative political event rather than solely a humanitarian tragedy, and implicitly critiques the direction Israel has taken in response. The Palestinian civilian experience is foregrounded structurally, even if not always explicitly in the headline.
ABC News Australia leads with the humanitarian condition of Gaza three years on, describing widespread destruction with the phrase 'it became a cemetery.' This framing centres Palestinian suffering and the long-term consequences of the military response, rather than the original attacks or Israeli grief. Notably, the ABC headline acknowledges the Hamas-led attacks as the triggering event, but the editorial weight shifts quickly to Gaza's current ruins. Taken together, Western conservative outlets like Fox News emphasise Israeli victimhood and protest opposition, Gulf-aligned outlets like Al Jazeera emphasise political transformation and regional power, while outlets like ABC Australia foreground the humanitarian toll on Palestinian civilians — each reflecting distinct editorial priorities and audience assumptions.
Source Articles
- Fox News7 Oct, 22:37Anti-Israel groups rally across US on October 7 anniversary, chanting 'long live the intifada'
Anti-Israel groups chanted "long live the intifada" and celebrated the Hamas attack as Oct. 7 anniversary protests swept across the country.
- Fox News7 Oct, 21:22Mike Waltz fights back tears revealing what Hamas hostage refused to do before release
Eliya Cohen, freed after 505 days in Hamas captivity, and Nova festival survivor Ziv Abud shared their harrowing stories at the United Nations.
- ABC News AU7 Oct, 18:57'It became a cemetery': Three years on, Gaza remains in ruins
Three years after the Hamas-led attacks in Israel on October 7, much of Gaza lies in ruins.
- Al Jazeera7 Oct, 08:53Fear and a far-right lurch: How October 7 reshaped Israel
Three years on, the trauma of October 7, 2023, continues to reshape Israel’s politics, wars and place in the world.