🔗 Share this article

Citizens have come together around the country to commemorate 24 months since the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, as talks advanced in Egypt over a conclusion to the war in the Gaza Strip.

The attack resulted in more than 1,200 people dead and 251 others captured away to Gaza as prisoners. It was the single deadliest day for the Jewish community since the Holocaust.

Israel reacted by beginning a military offensive in Gaza which has killed in excess of 67,000 people, as reported by the region's Hamas-controlled health ministry. Its numbers are seen as trustworthy by the United Nations and other world agencies.

"Our bloodthirsty enemies have hit us hard, but they have not broken us," the prime minister added on that day.

He also vowed to "achieve all the objectives of the war: the homecoming of all the captured, the elimination of the Hamas regime and the assurance that Gaza will never again create a danger to Israel".

Remembrance Gatherings Across Israel

The national leadership postponed formal memorials until October 16th - after the completion of the religious holiday season - but events still took place around the country on Tuesday.

A remembrance service for the loved ones of Israelis who died in the Hamas incident was organized in the coastal city. Arranged by the victims' relatives, it was televised throughout Israeli broadcast stations.

Some time earlier, a silent tribute was respected across the country.

Peace Meetings in Egypt

Meanwhile, both sides' delegations gathered in the North African Red Sea resort of the negotiation venue for a follow-up session of indirect talks to review the conditions of the proposal.

A senior delegate involved in the talks said that an evening round of indirect talks commenced at evening in Egypt.

The official stated the earlier meeting ended without tangible results, amid conflicting views over the recommended Israeli retreat arrangements from Gaza and over assurances Hamas seeks to guarantee Israel does not restart combat after the initial stage of the agreement.

He commented that the discussions are "challenging and have still not deliver any major advancement," but mentioned that intermediaries are working hard to close the gaps between the conflicting groups.

Key Issues in Discussions

• A lasting truce
• The exchange of the prisoners still held by Hamas for inmates from Gaza
• The removal of troops from Gaza
• Arrangements for humanitarian aid provision
• After-conflict management of the region

Citizen Reaction

In Tel Aviv's memorial area earlier, 29-year-old Hagar - whose brother survived the attack on the Nova music festival, where many attendees were killed and numerous more were taken hostage by Hamas gunmen - shared: "Nowhere appears as home anymore and until all the hostages are released none of us will be secure."

"When we see everybody home again, we can feel relief again. Then we can begin to recover," she continued.

Outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home in Jerusalem, people assembled to express their backing for the families of the abducted. Israel states 48 stay in captivity in Gaza, approximately twenty of whom are considered to be alive.

Protester one woman stated: "It's necessary do whatever arrangement required for the abducted to come back home. But we sincerely need guarantees that we will be protected."

Surveys now consistently show that about 70% of Israelis prefer the war to finish in as payment for the release of the hostages.

Gaza Circumstances

At the site of the gathering, those paying respects assembled to honor the dead.

From that location, the sound of aerial bombardments and explosions could be detected just a short distance away in Gaza, where observers reported the severe Israeli shelling persisted.

In Gaza City, attacks were documented in the morning of that day in the western Tal al-Hawa, Rimal and Nasr neighbourhoods and in the east side district of that sector, as well the camp to the north-west.

"Once the evening falls, the dread appears with it," displaced Gaza City resident a mother, whose young son was died by an Israeli bombing last year, described.

"My family are fearful of the bombings. During nighttime we are sleeping together, embracing, especially my youngest child who places his face on me throughout the night."

"Every second we check the news to see the situation. And I'm concerned that this truce will not be completed and that the fighting will return to us."

Humanitarian Emergency

The healthcare center in Gaza City said it had received the corpses of six people by the daytime, including a trio killed in an Israeli strike in the southern al-Sabra neighbourhood.

Nasser hospital in the south region of Khan Younis indicated additional fatalities had been delivered. A person was killed by Israeli troops while seeking assistance to the south, health workers said.

The region's health ministry reported a significant number of the {territ