AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered Texas flags at state buildings, facilities and offices to be lowered to half-staff Wednesday, Oct. 7, to mark the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Under the order, flags will be lowered for the day and returned to full-staff at sunset Wednesday. Abbott also encouraged individuals, businesses, municipalities and other political subdivisions to lower Texas flags during the same period.
The order was issued under Chapter 3100 of the Texas Government Code and directed to Col. Freeman F. Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
In a statement accompanying the order, Abbott said the attack by Hamas killed more than 1,200 people, including Americans, and said Texas would honor those who died.
The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage, according to Reuters. Israel subsequently launched a military campaign in Gaza. Palestinian health authorities say more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict. Those figures are reported by Palestinian authorities.
The United Nations has also reported continued Israeli military operations in Gaza. A Sept. 28 briefing by the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process said 1,386 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire, including more than 300 children and 130 women, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.
Israeli officials have said Hamas has continued to rearm and launch attacks and have cited those actions in defending continued military operations. Hamas has denied those accusations.
Abbott's order applies to Texas state buildings, facilities and offices. He encouraged other entities across the state to participate.
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