🔗 Share this article

Citizens have gathered around the country to remember 24 months since the Hamas-initiated attack on October 7th, 2023, as talks continued in Egypt over a conclusion to the war in the Gaza Strip.

The assault saw over 1,200 people losing their lives and 251 others taken away to Gaza as captives. It was the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Second World War.

Israel reacted by launching a military offensive in Gaza which has claimed more than 67,000 people, based on figures from the region's Hamas-controlled health ministry. Its figures are seen as accurate by the United Nations and other global organizations.

"Our aggressive adversaries have struck forcefully, but they have not defeated us," the leader stated on that day.

He also promised to "achieve all the objectives of the war: the homecoming of all the captured, the removal of the Hamas regime and the assurance that Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel".

Remembrance Ceremonies Across Israel

The government authorities postponed formal commemorations until mid-October - after the conclusion of the Jewish High Holiday season - but gatherings still were held across the country on Tuesday.

A commemorative event for the families of Israeli citizens killed in the Hamas assault was organized in Tel Aviv. Arranged by the victims' relatives, it was aired across Israeli broadcast stations.

A period earlier, a minute's silence was held around the country.

Peace Discussions in Egypt

At the same time, the conflicting parties' representatives met in the North African Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for a second day of third-party negotiations to review the conditions of the agreement.

A prominent delegate familiar with the discussions indicated that an night meeting of mediated discussions began at 7 PM local time.

The representative said the earlier meeting concluded without tangible results, due to disagreements over the proposed Israeli withdrawal maps from Gaza and over safeguards Hamas wants to guarantee Israel does not recommence fighting after the initial stage of the arrangement.

He commented that the negotiations are "challenging and have yet to achieve any real breakthrough," but pointed out that intermediaries are working hard to reduce the gaps between the both parties.

Key Points in Negotiations

• A lasting halt to fighting
• The trade of the prisoners still kept by Hamas for detainees from Gaza
• The withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza
• Measures for humanitarian aid distribution
• Future management of the area

Public Sentiment

In Tel Aviv's memorial area earlier, 29-year-old Hagar - whose sibling survived the incident on the outdoor event, where many attendees were killed and dozens more were captured by Hamas fighters - shared: "No place feels like home anymore and until each abducted person are released none of us will be secure."

"When we see everybody home again, we can breathe anew. Then we can begin to heal," she concluded.

Near Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official dwelling in Jerusalem, people congregated to express their solidarity for the families of the abducted. Israel states 48 continue in detention in Gaza, approximately twenty of whom are believed to be alive.

Demonstrator Atalia Regev remarked: "We must do whatever arrangement necessary for the abducted to come back home. But we sincerely need guarantees that we will be safe."

Research now consistently show that about the majority of the population desire the hostilities to conclude in return for the release of the captives.

Gaza Circumstances

At the location of the music event, those paying respects assembled to pay their respects.

From the site, the boom of Israeli air strikes and artillery could be noticed just a few kilometres away in Gaza, where witnesses said the intense Israeli attacks persisted.

In the urban center, bombardments were documented in the morning of Tuesday in the west side Tal al-Hawa, sector and Nasr districts and in the east side area of the community, as well the settlement to the north-west.

"As the evening falls, the fear appears with it," relocated urban resident a mother, whose young son was killed by an Israeli aerial attack earlier, shared.

"We are afraid of the air strikes. All the night we are sleeping together, holding each other, particularly my little child who places his head on me all night."

"Every second we check the reports to see the situation. And I'm afraid that this ceasefire will not be achieved and that the war will return to us."

Medical Emergency

The healthcare center in Gaza City said it had accepted the remains of several people by the midday, including a trio who lost their lives in an Israeli strike in the south part al-Sabra neighbourhood.

Another medical facility in the south region of that area reported another two victims had been transported. One of them was died by Israeli soldiers while seeking assistance to the south region, medical staff reported.

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