Israelis have gathered across the country to mark two years since the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, as negotiations continued in Egypt over an end to the war in Gaza.
The attack saw over 1,200 people killed and 251 others taken back to Gaza as hostages. It was the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
Israel responded by launching a military offensive in Gaza which has killed more than 67,000 people, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. Its figures are seen as reliable by the UN and other international bodies.
UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized the lasting impact of that tragic day, urging all parties to embrace President Trump's peace plan as a historic opportunity to end the conflict.
As memorial events took place in Israel, Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams convened in Sharm el-Sheikh for indirect talks regarding the peace proposal.
Despite an evening round of talks that began at 7pm Cairo time, earlier sessions ended without results, highlighting ongoing disagreements about withdrawal maps and assurances against renewed fighting.
A Palestinian official reported that the discussions focus on critical issues such as a permanent ceasefire, hostage exchanges, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, humanitarian aid arrangements, and post-war governance.
The negotiations continue as the Israeli government delayed official memorials to 16 October, but various remembrance events occurred across the nation.
Demonstrators have expressed the need for compromises to secure the return of hostages, alongside a desire for assurance of safety.
In the ongoing conflict, heavy Israeli bombardment persists in Gaza as discussions unfold, with hospitals reporting critical conditions and rising numbers of casualties.
With international journalists limited in their ability to independently verify events, both Israelis and Palestinians await the outcome of these crucial negotiations, representing a potential turning point in a long-standing conflict.
