🔗 Share this article

Israelis have gathered across the country to remember the second anniversary since the Hamas-conducted assault on that fateful day in October 2023, as negotiations advanced in Egypt over an end to the war in Gaza.

The incident resulted in over 1,200 people dead and 251 others captured back to Gaza as hostages. It was the uniquely most fatal day for Jews since the Second World War.

Israel responded by launching a defensive operation in Gaza which has killed more than 67,000 people, based on figures from the area's Hamas-administered health ministry. Its statistics are considered trustworthy by the United Nations and other world agencies.

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

He also vowed to "accomplish all the objectives of the war: the return of all the kidnapped, the removal of the Hamas regime and the guarantee that Gaza will no longer present a danger to Israel".

Memorial Events Across Israel

The national leadership delayed official commemorations until 16 October - after the end of the Jewish High Holiday season - but gatherings still occurred across the country on Tuesday.

A commemorative event for the families of Israelis killed in the Hamas incident was organized in Tel Aviv. Arranged by the families themselves, it was broadcast throughout Israeli broadcast stations.

A period earlier, a moment of silence was held around the country.

Ceasefire Meetings in Egypt

Simultaneously, Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams convened in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh for a continuing round of third-party negotiations to discuss the provisions of the proposal.

A prominent delegate knowledgeable about the negotiations said that an evening round of indirect talks started at 19:00 Cairo time.

The official stated the morning session concluded without significant progress, due to conflicting views over the recommended Israeli pullout plans from Gaza and over guarantees Hamas seeks to make certain Israel does not resume combat after the opening period of the deal.

He commented that the talks are "tough and have not yet deliver any real breakthrough," but mentioned that intermediaries are striving to close the gaps between the conflicting groups.

Key Points in Talks

• A permanent truce
• The swap of the hostages still detained by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners from Gaza
• The removal of military personnel from Gaza
• Measures for relief supplies provision
• After-conflict administration of the region

Civilian Feeling

In the city's public square earlier, young a woman - whose sibling endured the incident on the outdoor event, where hundreds were killed and many more were abducted by Hamas gunmen - told: "Nowhere seems like home any longer and until all the hostages return not a single person will be secure."

"When we see everyone home once more, we can relax again. Then we can start to heal," she concluded.

In front of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home in the capital, people congregated to demonstrate their support for the relatives of the captives. Israel states forty-eight stay in detention in Gaza, twenty of whom are thought to be alive.

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

Research now frequently demonstrate that around seventy percent of Israeli citizens want the hostilities to conclude in exchange for the liberation of the hostages.

Gaza Conditions

At the location of Nova festival, grieving people assembled to pay their respects.

From that location, the boom of aerial bombardments and explosions could be detected just a brief space away in Gaza, where observers reported the severe Israeli bombardment carried on.

In the main city, attacks were documented in the dawn of that day in the western neighborhood, Rimal and locality areas and in the eastern neighbourhood of that sector, as well Shati refugee camp to the northwest.

"When the night falls, the anxiety comes with it," evacuated urban resident a local woman, whose 17-year-old son was died by an Israeli aerial attack earlier, shared.

"Me and my three children are terrified of the bombings. All the night we are lying together, embracing, particularly my youngest child who puts his head on me all night."

"Continuously we look at the reports to see what happened. And I'm concerned that this ceasefire will not be achieved and that the conflict will resume to us."

Humanitarian Situation

Al-Shifa hospital in the urban area reported it had accepted the bodies of six people by the daytime, including several who lost their lives in an Israeli bombing in the south part al-Sabra neighbourhood.

Another medical facility in the south region of Khan Younis indicated another two dead people had been delivered. One of them was killed by Israeli forces while looking for aid to the southern area, medics reported.

The territory's health ministry said 25 of the {territ