Israelis gather to mark two years since 7 October Hamas attack that killed 1,200

"Israelis will gather across the country on Tuesday to mark the second anniversary of the 7 October attack, in which Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages during an assault on southern Israel. Unofficial commemorations will be held in the small kibbutzim of southern Israel whose members were killed or kidnapped, and a large rally will be held in Tel Aviv to call for the release of the remaining hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza."

"The official national ceremony of remembrance will be held on 16 October in Israel's national cemetery on Mount Herzl after the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. The memory of the collective trauma of the attack two years ago the deadliest single attack in Israel's history still looms large across the country. The faces of hostages still held in Gaza are plastered on bus stops around the country, and homes that were lit on fire by militants as they marauded through kibbutzim stand charred and abandoned."

"Negotiators from Hamas and Israel gathered in Egypt on Monday where they began indirect talks to iron out the details of the release of all hostages held in Gaza and the return of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, as well as the initial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. This round of negotiations, while still far from a deal, has generated more enthusiasm than any peace efforts since the last ceasefire broke down in mid-March."

Israelis will hold unofficial commemorations in southern kibbutzim and a large Tel Aviv rally to mark the second anniversary of the 7 October attack, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. An official national ceremony will be held on 16 October at Mount Herzl after Simchat Torah. Survivors, former hostages and families of victims attended memorials, including one for victims of the Nova music festival. Photos of hostages remain on bus stops and charred homes still stand in affected communities. Negotiators from Hamas and Israel met in Egypt for indirect talks on releasing hostages, returning nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and an initial Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.

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