Israel on Tuesday marked two years since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that plunged the region into one of its deadliest and most destructive conflicts, even as new diplomatic efforts emerged to end the war in Gaza.
The solemn anniversary came amid renewed indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh, under a United States–backed peace framework aimed at halting the fighting and securing the release of remaining hostages.
Two years ago, on the final day of the Jewish festival of Sukkot, Hamas-led fighters launched a surprise assault across the Gaza border. Militants stormed southern Israeli towns and a desert music festival, killing 1,219 people — mostly civilians — and abducting 251 others, according to Israeli figures compiled by AFP.
On Tuesday, Israel held nationwide memorials to honor the victims. At the site of the Nova music festival, where more than 370 people were killed, bereaved families and friends lit candles and observed a minute of silence.
“It was an enormous tragedy,” said Elad Gancz, a teacher attending the remembrance. “But we want to live, to move forward while keeping their memory alive.”
A major commemoration was also scheduled in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where weekly rallies have continued to press for the release of the 47 hostages still held in Gaza, 25 of whom the Israeli military believes are dead.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza now in its second year, has devastated the territory. The Hamas-run health ministry reports more than 67,000 Palestinians killed, with the United Nations describing the figures as credible and noting that over half of the dead are women and children.
Entire districts of Gaza lie in ruins, with homes, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of displaced residents are sheltering in overcrowded camps with limited food, water, and sanitation.
“We have lost everything — our homes, families, friends,” said Hanan Mohammed, a 36-year-old woman displaced from Jabalia. “All we want now is a ceasefire and an end to this nightmare.”
Public discontent within Israel has also deepened. A recent survey by the Institute for National Security Studies found that 72 percent of Israelis are dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the conflict.
Over the course of the war, Israel has expanded its regional military operations, launching strikes in several Middle Eastern capitals, including Tehran, and killing senior Hamas figures and Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Mounting international pressure is now pushing both sides toward a resolution. A United Nations investigation recently accused Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza, while human rights organizations have accused Hamas of war crimes during the October 7 assault — allegations both parties deny.
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace initiative that calls for an immediate ceasefire following the release of all hostages, Hamas’s disarmament, and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
According to Egyptian media, the ongoing talks in Sharm El-Sheikh are focused on setting the conditions for a potential prisoner-hostage exchange as a first step toward a broader ceasefire agreement.
A Palestinian source close to the Hamas delegation said negotiators were “examining the details” of the proposal, while expressing caution about Israel’s commitment to its terms.
As Israelis mourn and Palestinians endure the toll of a relentless war, hopes for a breakthrough and an end to two years of bloodshed, now rest on the fragile negotiations underway on Egyptian soil.
Source: Vanguard News
