Germany is marking the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks with memorial ceremonies, renewed warnings over antisemitism and a strong declaration of support for Israel from Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“Germany stands firmly at Israel’s side,” Merz said in a statement released Wednesday. He said Germany would continue working to ensure that an attack like October 7, 2023, is never repeated and described Israel’s security and existence as part of Germany’s historical responsibility following the Holocaust.
Merz also said Germany must confront rising antisemitism at home, insisting that Jewish people should be able to live throughout the country without fear.
At the same time, the chancellor called for a future in which Israelis, Palestinians and neighboring countries can live in peace and security. The German government continues to support the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as the preferred path toward that goal.
The anniversary is being observed across Germany, but Bielefeld has emerged as one of the cities drawing particular attention.
A memorial event is scheduled outside the Beit Tikwa synagogue on Detmolder Straße at 7 p.m. local time. Organizers say the gathering will send a message against terrorism and violence while remembering the victims of the 2023 attacks.
WDR reports that photographs and names of 120 Jewish people who were abducted or killed will be projected onto the synagogue. The program also includes prayers, speeches, interviews, Jewish music and a minute of silence.
This year’s Bielefeld commemoration will also focus specifically on sexual violence committed during the October 7 attack and against hostages, according to the local alliance organizing the event.
Hamas fighters killed around 1,200 people in Israel during the October 7, 2023 attack and abducted more than 200 others into Gaza. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has caused massive destruction and tens of thousands of deaths, becoming the subject of intense international criticism and legal scrutiny.
Three years later, October 7 remains a deeply consequential date in Germany, where the legacy of the Holocaust gives the country's relationship with Israel particular political and historical significance.
Merz’s message on Wednesday was unequivocal: Germany intends to maintain its support for Israel while fighting antisemitism at home and continuing to push for a political settlement that offers security and a future to both Israelis and Palestinians.
