🔗 Share this article

Citizens have gathered around the country to commemorate 24 months since the Hamas-led assault on October 7th, 2023, as negotiations advanced in the neighboring country over an end to the hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

The attack resulted in more than 1,200 people killed and 251 others abducted back to Gaza as captives. It was the single most lethal day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Israel reacted by initiating a armed campaign in Gaza which has killed in excess of 67,000 people, based on figures from the region's Hamas-controlled health ministry. Its statistics are considered accurate by the UN and other world agencies.

"Our bloodthirsty enemies have hit us hard, but they have not defeated us," the leader stated on Tuesday.

He also vowed to "accomplish all the aims of the war: the return of all the abducted, the elimination of the Hamas government and the promise that Gaza will no longer present a danger to Israel".

Memorial Gatherings Across Israel

The national leadership postponed official memorials until 16 October - after the completion of the religious holiday season - but gatherings still were held around the country on Tuesday.

A commemorative event for the loved ones of Israelis who lost their lives in the Hamas assault was organized in the coastal city. Organized by the families themselves, it was aired across Israeli TV networks.

Some time earlier, a minute's silence was respected throughout the country.

Peace Meetings in Egypt

Simultaneously, both sides' representatives convened in the North African coastal city of the Egyptian city for a second day of indirect talks to examine the conditions of the plan.

A senior Palestinian official knowledgeable about the talks said that an night meeting of mediated discussions commenced at 7 PM local time.

The representative said the morning session finished without tangible results, amid differences over the suggested Israeli withdrawal maps from Gaza and over guarantees Hamas seeks to guarantee Israel does not recommence fighting after the opening period of the arrangement.

He added that the talks are "challenging and have yet to produce any real breakthrough," but pointed out that facilitators are making efforts to narrow the gaps between the both parties.

Key Matters in Discussions

• An enduring halt to fighting
• The exchange of the prisoners still detained by Hamas for detainees from Gaza
• The removal of military personnel from Gaza
• Plans for relief supplies distribution
• Future administration of the territory

Public Reaction

In Tel Aviv's public square that day, young a woman - whose family member survived the attack on the Nova music festival, where 378 people were murdered and numerous more were taken hostage by Hamas fighters - told: "No location seems like home anymore and until each abducted person are released none of us will have peace of mind."

"When we see everybody home returned, we can relax anew. Then we can begin to heal," she continued.

In front of the prime minister's official dwelling in Jerusalem, people congregated to show their backing for the families of the abducted. Israel reports 48 remain in confinement in Gaza, twenty of whom are considered to be surviving.

Activist a participant stated: "It's necessary do every compromise needed for the captives to be released. But we sincerely need guarantees that we will be protected."

Opinion polls now consistently show that around 70% of Israeli citizens want the hostilities to end in exchange for the liberation of the abducted.

Gaza Conditions

At the area of the gathering, grieving people came together to pay their respects.

From the site, the noise of aerial bombardments and explosions could be detected just a brief space away in Gaza, where local people reported the heavy Israeli shelling continued.

In the urban center, bombardments were noted in the morning of that day in the west side neighborhood, sector and locality areas and in the eastern neighbourhood of Sheikh Radwan, as well Shati refugee camp to the northwest.

"Once the evening arrives, the dread comes with it," relocated Gaza City resident a local woman, whose young son was died by an Israeli air strike last year, explained.

"My family are afraid of the attacks. Throughout the evening we are sleeping together, clinging, especially my smallest child who rests his head on me all night."

"Every second we look at the reports to see what happened. And I'm afraid that this ceasefire will not be completed and that the fighting will come back to us."

Humanitarian Emergency

Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City reported it had taken in the corpses of several people by the afternoon, including several killed in an Israeli bombing in the south part district.

Nasser hospital in the southern city of that area said another two victims had been brought there. A person was killed by Israeli forces while attempting to get aid to the south, health workers reported.

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