On October 7, 2023, a major and deadly event occurred when Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups launched a series of coordinated armed attacks from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. The attacks involved firing over 4,300 rockets, along with militant incursions by vehicles and paragliders crossing the Gaza–Israel barrier. They attacked military bases and civilians in numerous communities, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,195 people—including many civilians, security forces, and foreign nationals. Around 250 Israelis were taken hostage to Gaza. The day became known as the deadliest in Israel's history, with tragic consequences and widespread international condemnation. The attacks initiated an ongoing war between Gaza and Israel and had profound humanitarian impacts on both populations.

October 7 also marks other historical events, such as:

• The start of the War in Afghanistan in 2001 with American and British airstrikes targeting Al Qaeda and Taliban forces following the 9/11 attacks.

• In 1949, the constitution for the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) went into effect.

However, the most significant and recent historical reference to October 7 pertains to the 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, which overshadow other historical events on this day.