🔗 Share this article

Citizens have gathered around the country to commemorate two years since the Hamas-conducted assault on 7 October 2023, as talks continued in Egypt over an end to the war in Gaza.

The attack saw over 1,200 people killed and 251 others captured back to Gaza as prisoners. It was the single deadliest day for the Jewish community since the World War II.

Israel reacted by launching a defensive operation in Gaza which has killed more than 67,000 people, as reported by the region's Hamas-administered health ministry. Its figures are regarded as reliable by the UN and other world agencies.

"The bloodthirsty enemies have struck forcefully, but they have not broken us," Benjamin Netanyahu remarked on that day.

He also promised to "realize all the goals of the war: the homecoming of all the captured, the elimination of the Hamas regime and the promise that Gaza will no longer create a risk to Israel".

Commemorative Ceremonies Across Israel

The Israeli government delayed formal memorials until October 16th - after the end of the festive season - but events still took place throughout the country on that day.

A memorial ceremony for the relatives of Israeli citizens killed in the Hamas assault was organized in the coastal city. Arranged by the affected families, it was televised across Israeli TV networks.

Hours earlier, a silent tribute was held across the country.

Negotiation Meetings in Egypt

Simultaneously, Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams convened in the Egyptian tourist destination of the Egyptian city for a continuing round of third-party negotiations to review the conditions of the plan.

A senior delegate familiar with the negotiations said that an evening round of mediated discussions commenced at 7 PM local time.

The representative said the morning session finished without concrete outcomes, due to differences over the suggested Israeli pullout plans from Gaza and over safeguards Hamas wants to ensure Israel does not recommence hostilities after the opening period of the agreement.

He commented that the negotiations are "tough and have still not achieve any major advancement," but mentioned that facilitators are working hard to close the disparities between the both parties.

Essential Issues in Talks

• A permanent ceasefire
• The swap of the prisoners still kept by Hamas for inmates from Gaza
• The pullout of Israeli forces from Gaza
• Plans for relief supplies provision
• After-conflict governance of the region

Citizen Feeling

In the city's public square previously, 29-year-old Hagar - whose family member endured the assault on the outdoor event, where many attendees were killed and numerous more were abducted by Hamas gunmen - shared: "No location seems like home anymore and until each abducted person come back none of us will be secure."

"Once we see all home once more, we can relax anew. Then we can start to heal," she continued.

Outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official dwelling in Jerusalem, people assembled to show their support for the relatives of the abducted. Israel says 48 remain in confinement in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be surviving.

Demonstrator a participant remarked: "We need do any agreement necessary for the captives to be released. But we really want promises that we will be protected."

Research now consistently show that about 70% of Israelis want the conflict to finish in as payment for the release of the hostages.

Palestinian Situation

At the area of the music event, mourners assembled to remember the victims.

From the site, the boom of Israeli air strikes and explosions could be heard just a few kilometres away in Gaza, where local people reported the heavy Israeli shelling persisted.

In the urban center, bombardments were reported in the early hours of Tuesday in the west side district, sector and locality neighbourhoods and in the eastern area of Sheikh Radwan, as well the settlement to the north-west.

"When the evening comes, the fear comes with it," evacuated Gaza City resident Emaan al-Wahidi, whose young son was lost his life by an Israeli aerial attack last year, described.

"Me and my three children are terrified of the air strikes. Throughout the evening we are resting together, embracing, notably my youngest child who rests his head on me all night."

"Continuously we monitor the news to see what happened. And I'm worried that this truce will not be finalized and that the war will return to us."

Health Situation

The medical facility in the urban area announced it had accepted the remains of half dozen people by the midday, including several who died in an Israeli attack in the southern al-Sabra neighbourhood.

Nasser hospital in the south region of that area said another two dead people had been delivered. An individual was died by Israeli forces while looking for aid to the south region, medical staff said.

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