🔗 Share this article

Israelis have come together across the country to mark 24 months since the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, as negotiations proceeded in the neighboring country over a conclusion to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The assault led to over 1,200 people dead and 251 others captured away to Gaza as hostages. It was the most deadliest day for the Jewish community since the Second World War.

Israel answered by beginning a military offensive in Gaza which has taken over 67,000 people, according to the region's Hamas-controlled health ministry. Its numbers are considered accurate by the United Nations and other global organizations.

"Our bloodthirsty enemies have caused great damage, but they have not defeated us," the prime minister added on that day.

He also promised to "accomplish all the objectives of the war: the homecoming of all the kidnapped, the removal of the Hamas administration and the guarantee that Gaza will never again present a threat to Israel".

Commemorative Ceremonies Across Israel

The national leadership delayed formal memorials until mid-October - after the completion of the festive season - but ceremonies still took place throughout the country on that day.

A remembrance service for the families of Israeli citizens who lost their lives in the Hamas attack was conducted in the coastal city. Put together by the affected families, it was broadcast on Israeli broadcast stations.

Some time earlier, a moment of silence was held around the country.

Negotiation Meetings in Egypt

Meanwhile, both sides' representatives gathered in the Egyptian coastal city of the negotiation venue for a follow-up session of mediated discussions to review the conditions of the proposal.

A senior delegate knowledgeable about the talks revealed that an night meeting of indirect talks began at evening in Egypt.

The official said the morning session concluded without concrete outcomes, due to disagreements over the proposed Israeli pullout plans from Gaza and over guarantees Hamas seeks to guarantee Israel does not recommence combat after the opening period of the arrangement.

He commented that the talks are "difficult and have yet to achieve any major advancement," but noted that mediators are making efforts to narrow the differences between the conflicting groups.

Key Issues in Talks

• A lasting ceasefire
• The swap of the hostages still kept by Hamas for detainees from Gaza
• The pullout of Israeli forces from Gaza
• Plans for humanitarian aid deliveries
• Post-war governance of the territory

Citizen Reaction

In Tel Aviv's public square earlier, young a woman - whose family member survived the incident on the outdoor event, where many attendees were lost their lives and numerous more were taken hostage by Hamas fighters - explained: "Nowhere seems like home now and until each abducted person are released not a single person will have peace of mind."

"Once we see everybody home again, we can breathe once more. Then we can start to recover," she concluded.

Near the prime minister's official dwelling in Jerusalem, people assembled to demonstrate their solidarity for the relatives of the abducted. Israel says 48 stay in captivity in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Protester one woman stated: "We need do whatever arrangement necessary for the captives to come back home. But we sincerely need promises that we will be secure."

Surveys now regularly indicate that approximately seventy percent of Israelis desire the hostilities to conclude in as payment for the release of the abducted.

Gaza Conditions

At the location of the music event, mourners assembled to honor the dead.

From the site, the noise of Israeli air strikes and shelling could be detected just a short distance away in Gaza, where observers reported the intense Israeli bombardment continued.

In Gaza City, attacks were reported in the early hours of that day in the western Tal al-Hawa, area and locality neighbourhoods and in the eastern area of that sector, as well the camp to the northwestern area.

"When the night falls, the anxiety comes with it," relocated urban resident Emaan al-Wahidi, whose teenage son was died by an Israeli aerial attack earlier, described.

"Me and my three children are terrified of the attacks. All the night we are resting together, clinging, especially my smallest child who places his head on me all night."

"Every second we monitor the reports to see what happened. And I'm concerned that this truce will not be achieved and that the war will come back to us."

Health Crisis

Al-Shifa hospital in the urban area announced it had received the corpses of half dozen people by the midday, including a trio who lost their lives in an Israeli attack in the southern al-Sabra neighbourhood.

Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis reported another two dead people had been brought there. An individual was killed by Israeli forces while seeking help to the southern area, medics stated.

The region's health ministry said twenty-five of the {territ