🔗 Share this article

Israelis have assembled across the country to commemorate 24 months since the Hamas-conducted attack on 7 October 2023, as discussions continued in the neighboring country over a resolution to the war in the Gaza Strip.

The attack led to in excess of 1,200 people dead and 251 others abducted back to Gaza as prisoners. It was the uniquely most fatal day for Jewish people since the Second World War.

Israel answered by launching a armed campaign in Gaza which has killed over 67,000 people, based on figures from the region's Hamas-administered health ministry. Its statistics are regarded as trustworthy by the UN and other world agencies.

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

He also pledged to "achieve all the aims of the war: the release of all the abducted, the elimination of the Hamas government and the promise that Gaza will never again present a danger to Israel".

Commemorative Events Across Israel

The government authorities postponed state commemorations until October 16th - after the completion of the Jewish High Holiday season - but events still were held around the country on Tuesday.

A commemorative event for the relatives of Israelis who lost their lives in the Hamas incident was held in Tel Aviv. Put together by the affected families, it was televised across Israeli TV networks.

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

Ceasefire Talks in Egypt

At the same time, Israeli and Hamas delegations gathered in the Egyptian coastal city of the Egyptian city for a second day of mediated discussions to examine the terms of the proposal.

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

The official said the day's discussions concluded without concrete outcomes, amid differences over the suggested Israeli withdrawal maps from Gaza and over guarantees Hamas seeks to ensure Israel does not recommence fighting after the initial stage of the agreement.

He commented that the discussions are "challenging and have still not achieve any major advancement," but pointed out that intermediaries are making efforts to reduce the disparities between the conflicting groups.

Key Issues in Talks

• A lasting truce
• The swap of the prisoners still kept by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners from Gaza
• The pullout of Israeli forces from Gaza
• Arrangements for humanitarian aid provision
• After-conflict administration of the territory

Public Reaction

In Tel Aviv's Hostages Square that day, young a woman - whose brother survived the attack on the outdoor event, where hundreds were killed and many more were taken hostage by Hamas gunmen - told: "No place appears as home any longer and until every captive come back none of us will feel safe."

"Once we see everybody home once more, we can breathe anew. Then we can start to rebuild," she continued.

Near the prime minister's residence in the capital, people assembled to show their solidarity for the loved ones of the abducted. Israel states forty-eight continue in confinement in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be living.

Protester Atalia Regev explained: "We must do whatever arrangement needed for the captives to be released. But we sincerely need promises that we will be safe."

Surveys now frequently demonstrate that around the majority of Israeli citizens desire the hostilities to end in as payment for the release of the abducted.

Palestinian Conditions

At the site of Nova festival, those paying respects assembled to pay their respects.

From that location, the sound of aerial bombardments and explosions could be detected just a few kilometres away in Gaza, where local people indicated the severe Israeli attacks carried on.

In the urban center, attacks were documented in the dawn of Tuesday in the west side Tal al-Hawa, area and locality areas and in the east side district of Sheikh Radwan, as well the camp to the north-west.

"When the night arrives, the fear comes with it," relocated Gaza City resident a local woman, whose 17-year-old son was died by an Israeli aerial attack previously, explained.

"Me and my three children are afraid of the attacks. Throughout the evening we are sleeping together, clinging, notably my little child who rests his head on me throughout the night."

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

Humanitarian Situation

Al-Shifa hospital in the urban area announced it had taken in the remains of half dozen people by the midday, including a trio killed in an Israeli attack in the south part al-Sabra neighbourhood.

Another medical facility in the southern city of that area reported another two victims had been delivered. A person was died by Israeli soldiers while attempting to get aid to the south, medical staff stated.

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