🔗 Share this article

Israelis have assembled across the country to remember 24 months since the Hamas-conducted assault on that fateful day in October 2023, as negotiations advanced in the neighboring country over a conclusion to the war in Gaza.

The attack resulted in more than 1,200 people dead and 251 others captured away to Gaza as captives. It was the single most lethal day for the Jewish community since the World War II.

Israel answered by launching a military offensive in Gaza which has taken more than 67,000 people, based on figures from the area's Hamas-administered health ministry. Its figures are seen as accurate by the UN and other international bodies.

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

He also promised to "realize all the aims of the war: the return of all the kidnapped, the removal of the Hamas government and the promise that Gaza will not create a danger to Israel".

Commemorative Events Across Israel

The Israeli government delayed state commemorations until October 16th - after the conclusion of the Jewish High Holiday season - but ceremonies still took place around the country on that day.

A remembrance service for the relatives of Israelis who died in the Hamas attack was conducted in the coastal city. Organized by the victims' relatives, it was televised across Israeli television channels.

Some time earlier, a minute's silence was held around the country.

Ceasefire Discussions in Egypt

Meanwhile, the conflicting parties' delegations gathered in the Egyptian tourist destination of Sharm el-Sheikh for a second day of indirect talks to review the terms of the plan.

A prominent delegate involved in the negotiations revealed that an late session of negotiations commenced at 19:00 Cairo time.

The source stated the earlier meeting finished without concrete outcomes, because of disagreements over the suggested Israeli withdrawal maps from Gaza and over assurances Hamas demands to ensure Israel does not resume hostilities after the initial stage of the deal.

He added that the negotiations are "challenging and have not yet achieve any major advancement," but noted that facilitators are making efforts to close the gaps between the two sides.

Key Points in Talks

• An enduring ceasefire
• The trade of the hostages still detained by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners from Gaza
• The pullout of military personnel from Gaza
• Arrangements for assistance distribution
• Future governance of the region

Citizen Reaction

In the city's public square earlier, young Hagar - whose sibling survived the assault on the Nova music festival, where hundreds were lost their lives and many more were taken hostage by Hamas militants - explained: "No location feels like home now and until each abducted person are released not a single person will have peace of mind."

"When we see all home returned, we can breathe anew. Then we can commence rebuild," she added.

Outside the leader's residence in Jerusalem, people assembled to express their backing for the loved ones of the captives. Israel says nearly fifty continue in captivity in Gaza, 20 of whom are considered to be surviving.

Protester one woman explained: "We must do every compromise necessary for the abducted to be released. But we truly desire assurances that we will be protected."

Opinion polls now consistently show that about the majority of Israeli citizens desire the hostilities to finish in return for the release of the captives.

Palestinian Circumstances

At the area of the music event, mourners assembled to remember the victims.

From that location, the noise of Israeli air strikes and explosions could be heard just a brief space away in Gaza, where observers said the intense Israeli shelling carried on.

In the main city, attacks were noted in the morning of Tuesday in the western Tal al-Hawa, area and Nasr districts and in the eastern area of Sheikh Radwan, as well the settlement to the northwestern area.

"When the dusk falls, the fear appears with it," evacuated urban resident a local woman, whose teenage son was killed by an Israeli aerial attack earlier, described.

"Me and my three children are fearful of the air strikes. During nighttime we are sleeping together, clinging, particularly my smallest child who puts his face on me throughout the night."

"Constantly we look at the news to see the situation. And I'm concerned that this truce will not be completed and that the war will return to us."

Humanitarian Emergency

The healthcare center in the urban area announced it had received the bodies of six people by the daytime, including three who lost their lives in an Israeli attack in the southern district.

Another medical facility in the southern urban center of that area indicated another two dead people had been brought there. A person was lost his life by Israeli soldiers while seeking help to the south region, health workers reported.

Gaza's health ministry reported twenty-five of the {territ