VFI News Israel Marks Three Years Since October 7 as Netanyahu Vows 'No Forgiveness' for the Murderers and the IDF Warns of Preemptive Strikes

Three years after October 7, Netanyahu stood before Israel and declared: 'There is no forgiveness for the murderers.' Here's what he vowed at today's national remembrance ceremony.

Today marks three years since the October 7 massacre. Netanyahu promised to complete the mission in Gaza, the IDF announced preemptive strike doctrine, and a Hamas operative hiding inside a Turkish aid organisation was eliminated. Israel is not forgetting — and it is not stopping.

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Today, Monday, October 5 (according to the Jewish calendar), Israel observes its national day of remembrance for the victims of the October 7 massacre, three years on. We stand with the bereaved families, the survivors, and all who still carry the wounds of that day.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the state ceremony for the victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Monday, October 5, that Israel will complete its mission in Gaza and settle accounts with everyone who took part in the massacre. He recounted that Doron Journo, whose daughter Karin was murdered at the Nova music festival, pleaded with him: "Mr. Prime Minister, finish the mission. Finish the mission in the Gaza Strip." "I hugged him, and I promised him," Netanyahu said. "That is my commitment, we will complete the mission. We are completing it every day."

"There is no forgiveness for the murderers, for the torturers, for those who burned," the prime minister declared. "There is no forgiveness for those who destroyed, looted, and kidnapped." Israel is hunting down those who kidnapped and held Israelis, he said: "We are eliminating them one after another." The ceremony was held on Israel's national day of remembrance for October 7, three years after the attack.

Netanyahu stressed that Israel is defending not only itself but the free world. "When the volcano of terror and the fundamentalist hatred erupts… it doesn't pass over Britain, it doesn't pass over France, it doesn't pass over the Netherlands," he said, repeating the Netherlands for emphasis after the Dutch government turned Europe's product-labeling policies into an outright boycott. Yet that has not stopped European governments from airing "blood libels" against Israel, he said. (TOI/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, on this day of remembrance we pray in Yeshua's Name that You comfort every family in Israel still grieving those murdered on October 7, and the hostages who came back and are still recovering from the trauma. We ask You to strengthen our leaders and our soldiers as they complete the mission against those who burned, looted, and kidnapped, and to bring every last one of them to justice. Please open the eyes of the nations of Europe to the truth and silence every blood libel spoken against Your people. We thank You that You are close to the brokenhearted and that You have not forgotten Israel.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned on Sunday, October 4, that Israel will keep taking preemptive military action against emerging threats, as he announced the conclusion of the IDF's investigations into the failures of October 7. Speaking to a conference of senior commanders at the Glilot base, convened on the eve of the national memorial day for October 7, he said the military must prepare for the possibility of a surprise war across multiple fronts. "We are building the IDF's strategy with readiness for a surprise war, including the preemptive thwarting of severe threats as they develop, as our reference scenario—this is our operational compass," he declared.

"Our message is clear: Whoever threatens to harm us and builds the capabilities to do so—we will act in advance and strike them with a decisive blow." The conference, attended by officers of brigadier general rank and above, opened with a moment of silence for those murdered on October 7, and senior officers presented the main findings of the investigations and the measures being implemented to correct the failures. "The events of October 7th continue to accompany us, and our duty is to ensure that they do not happen again," Zamir said.

Zamir announced that 2027 will be dedicated to investigating the broader war, beginning with Operation Roaring Lion and culminating in a comprehensive assessment. Israel's small size, he stressed, requires a larger army: "The State of Israel is a geographically small country without territorial depth, and it faces multi-front threats. The size of the IDF is our strategic depth. Therefore, we must expand the IDF and adapt it to its growing missions." He also honored Chief Warrant Officer V. of Unit 8200, who warned before October 7 that Hamas was preparing a large-scale surprise attack, and said the entire IDF "is in constant readiness. We are all on guard." (INN/VFI News)

“With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” – Psalm 60:12

The IDF struck in the Khan Younis area of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, October 4, eliminating Saqr Nabil Musa Qaisi, a Nukhba terrorist in Hamas who infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre. Alongside his activities within Hamas, Qaisi served as the director of the Turkish organization Deniz Feneri, which presents itself as a humanitarian aid group but in practice maintains ties with senior figures in the Hamas leadership and with elements within the Turkish leadership.

As part of his role in the organization, the terrorist worked to regularly employ numerous terrorists and provide financial support to Hamas operatives. The organization and its senior figures present their activities as humanitarian efforts, but in practice promote fundraising to support the terrorist organization. "This constitutes the cynical exploitation of the humanitarian sphere to support terrorist activity, while advancing the activities of the Hamas terrorist organization under a humanitarian guise," the IDF stated.

Throughout the war and in the period before the strike, Qaisi advanced terrorist activities against IDF troops and Israeli civilians and worked to restore Hamas's capabilities, in systematic violation of the ceasefire. The terrorist was eliminated in order to remove the threat he posed. His elimination came three years after Hamas's Nukhba force stormed across the border into Israel on October 7, 2023. (INN/VFI News)

“There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide.” – Job 34:22

New details from the interrogation of Hamam al-Hammami, the Flydubai co-pilot who attempted to hijack a flight from Dubai to Israel, indicate that the terrorist intended to crash the plane into Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and cause mass casualties, Israeli officials said on Sunday, October 4. For this reason, the officials said, al-Hammami began his hijacking attempt only over Jordan, planning to continue toward Israel so the flight would appear routine.

The terrorist is suspected of having planned to approach landing as usual and, only in the final seconds—once it was impossible to intercept the plane—crash it into the terminal. The plot was foiled thanks to Captain Smit Machchhar's ability to open the cockpit door, allowing the passengers to retake control from the hijacker. In his interrogation, al-Hammami said he had planned the attack before Flydubai hired him: "I searched and checked which airlines fly to Tel Aviv and therefore I chose Flydubai. I tried to be hired by all the companies. I planned the attack before I was hired."

Israeli Mossad agents and aviation experts are taking part in the investigation, alongside Saudi and Omani intelligence officials and at least two American intelligence representatives, a senior Emirati official said. The investigation is focused on the planning of the attack by the 29-year-old co-pilot, who, the Emirati official said, planned to crash the aircraft into a high-rise building in Israel in a plot modeled on the September 11 attacks, with Tel Aviv's Azrieli Towers among the targets under consideration. Al-Hammami had previously been fired by Oman Air over his extremist views and barred from working as a pilot in his home country; he later moved to Morocco, visited Syria, and was eventually hired by Flydubai. (INN/VFI News)

“Heavenly Father, we thank You for sparing everyone aboard that flight and for the courage of the captain and passengers who stopped a massacre at Ben Gurion Airport. We pray that You give wisdom to the investigators from Israel and the nations now working together, so that every accomplice and every plot like this one is exposed. Please guard the skies over Israel and every traveler coming home to the land You promised. We ask You to turn the hearts of those who plan such evil, or remove them before they can act.”

On October 7th, 2023, the unthinkable happened. Ronit Glaser, a dedicated first responder with Magen David Adom, faced a day that would change her life forever. In this powerful and emotional account, Ronit shares her experience as she navigated the chaos of one of the most devastating events in Israel’s history. Through her eyes, we also hear the heartbreaking story of Amit Mann, a heroic paramedic who gave her life to save others that fateful day.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday, October 4, that he intends to expand Israel's naval capabilities after hearing from defense officials about the navy's need for additional submarines, ships, and more during a visit to the Ashdod Naval Base. Netanyahu was accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz. The Naval Chief of Staff and the commander of the Ashdod base briefed them on the challenges in the naval arena and the operations of forces in the southern sector, including the patrol squadron and the landing craft company.

During the visit, the prime minister and defense minister were also presented with a display of the weapons the forces use to contend with threats against Israel, in both defensive and offensive operations. "The sea has become an international battlefield," Netanyahu stated, pointing to the current events in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and adding that Israel's territorial waters are also under threat.

He sent a message particularly addressed to the Houthis and to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is seeking to use submarines. "Our enemies want to threaten our territorial waters in the Mediterranean Sea, our sea ports, and our maritime traffic. Of course, we will not allow this to happen," Netanyahu said. He declared that he intends to advance Israel's naval combat capabilities: "In this field too, on and under the sea, I intend for Israel to be one of the world leaders in this field of warfare." (INN/VFI News)

Matan Bar Noy, head of the World Zionist Organization delegation to Britain and Europe, tore up a resolution adopted by the Green Party of England and Wales defining Zionism as racism on Sunday evening, October 4, in front of the British Parliament in London. His gesture was inspired by former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Chaim Herzog, who in 1975 tore up UN General Assembly Resolution 3379, which equated Zionism with racism, while standing at the General Assembly podium. The UN repealed that resolution in 1991.

"Zionism is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people and the expression of their right to self-determination in their historic homeland," Bar Noy said. "Fifty-one years after the UN adopted the disgraceful resolution equating Zionism with racism, and years after the world reversed that decision, there are those who are trying to bring back the same libel through the back door." He added: "Here, in the heart of British democracy, our message is clear: We will not accept any attempt to turn the Jewish people's very right to self-determination into racism. I am tearing up this resolution and throwing it where it belongs: into the dustbin of history."

Bar Noy called the resolution particularly serious in light of rising antisemitism in Britain and the hostile atmosphere toward Israel and the Jewish community. "Criticism of the Israeli government is legitimate, and let us debate it; denying the Jewish people's right to self-determination is something entirely different," he said. The resolution, approved at the Green Party's conference, defines Zionism as "racism" and calls for a single Palestinian state with "equal rights for all," without mentioning the continued existence of the State of Israel or a two-state solution. The motion, submitted by the "Greens for Palestine" group, passed with 56% of the vote; 1,835 people took part out of more than 200,000 party members, and party leader Zack Polanski abstained. (INN/VFI News)

“Our Father in Heaven, we pray in Yeshua's Name that You expose the lie that calls Zionism racism and that You give courage to those who stand up for Your people in Britain and across Europe. We ask You to protect the Jewish community of the United Kingdom amid rising antisemitism and to bring to nothing every attempt to deny Israel's right to exist. Please raise up leaders in the nations who will bless Israel rather than curse her, and let the truth of Your covenant with the Jewish people be known. We thank You that You watch over Zion and that Your promises never fail.”

Israel will establish an embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the Congolese government prepares to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The decision was announced on Sunday, October 4. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar approved the opening of the Israeli embassy, and Kobi Shoshani was appointed to serve as Israel's ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Once the Congolese embassy is relocated to Jerusalem, the Congo will become the 11th country to maintain an embassy in Israel's capital. The Foreign Ministry's appointments committee also approved two additional diplomatic appointments. Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li was named Israel's ambassador to India, while also serving as non-resident ambassador to Bhutan and Sri Lanka; she currently serves as deputy director-general of the ministry's Africa Division and previously served as ambassador to Ghana and as deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Ronit Nudelman Perl was appointed Israel's ambassador to Ghana, based in Accra, and will also serve as non-resident ambassador to Liberia and Sierra Leone. She currently serves as chargé d'affaires in the ministry's Europe Division and previously headed the Civil Diplomacy Department and served as Israel's consul in Boston. (INN/VFI News)

“All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.” – Psalm 86:9

Walter Bingham, who will turn 103 in a few months, danced during the Simchat Torah Hakafot at the Chabad synagogue in Jerusalem's Rehavia–Shaarei Chesed neighborhood this holiday season—which concluded in Israel on Saturday, October 3, 2026—taking the hand of a young child from the community, two Jews dancing together with nearly 100 years between them. Bingham took part in the Normandy invasion as a British soldier and helped liberate Europe from Nazi Germany, and he remains active and remarkably fit. His friend Udi Hershler, a lecturer in philosophy and Jewish history who stood beside him, called the spontaneous moment the most moving of the night.

A man who fought the Nazis found himself dancing in the same circle as children whose great-grandfather he could be, and the Torah became a shared bond that transcended age, opinions, and outlooks. The experience reached its peak when Bingham stood beneath the tallit alongside dozens of children for the traditional "Kol HaNe'arim" aliyah, a moment he had specifically requested—"an experience of eternal togetherness, connecting generations across thousands of years," Hershler said.

Bingham also shared memories of Simchat Torah from his youth. He left Germany in 1939 at age 15 on the Kindertransport, and recalled that by the early 1930s the celebrations in his hometown of Mannheim had already been pushed almost underground, from a proud, public expression of Jewish joy to something marked quietly, out of fear. He deeply regrets having almost no memories of celebrating Simchat Torah with his beloved father, who was murdered by the Nazis in 1941. Nearly 90 years later, in Israel, he was dancing with children—three years after the Simchat Torah massacre of the Jewish year 5784, the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust—giving new meaning, Hershler said, to the Haggadah's words: "And it is this that has stood by our fathers and us." (INN/VFI News)

“They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green…” – Psalm 92:14

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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