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People have gathered throughout the country to mark two years since the Hamas-led assault on 7 October 2023, as discussions proceeded in Egypt over a resolution to the war in Gaza.

The attack saw in excess of 1,200 people killed and 251 others abducted back to Gaza as prisoners. It was the most most lethal day for Jews since the Second World War.

Israel responded by launching a defensive operation in Gaza which has claimed more than 67,000 people, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. Its numbers are seen as accurate by the UN and other global organizations.

"The bloodthirsty adversaries have struck forcefully, but they have not broken us," the prime minister added on that day.

He also vowed to "realize all the objectives of the war: the return of all the kidnapped, the removal of the Hamas administration and the promise that Gaza will never again present a danger to Israel".

Memorial Gatherings Across Israel

The Israeli government rescheduled official commemorations until mid-October - after the completion of the religious holiday season - but ceremonies still took place across the country on that day.

A commemorative event for the loved ones of people who lost their lives in the Hamas attack was organized in Tel Aviv. Organized by the victims' relatives, it was aired on Israeli TV networks.

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

Peace Talks in Egypt

Meanwhile, the conflicting parties' representatives convened in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of the negotiation venue for a follow-up session of third-party negotiations to review the provisions of the proposal.

A senior Palestinian official involved in the negotiations indicated that an late session of negotiations began at 19:00 Cairo time.

The source explained the earlier meeting ended without significant progress, due to conflicting views over the suggested Israeli withdrawal maps from Gaza and over assurances Hamas demands to ensure Israel does not restart combat after the initial stage of the agreement.

He added that the discussions are "challenging and have still not produce any significant progress," but pointed out that mediators are making efforts to reduce the gaps between the two sides.

Critical Issues in Discussions

• An enduring ceasefire
• The swap of the captives still kept by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners from Gaza
• The withdrawal of military personnel from Gaza
• Arrangements for relief supplies deliveries
• After-conflict administration of the territory

Public Feeling

In the city's Hostages Square previously, young Hagar - whose sibling survived the assault on the outdoor event, where many attendees were killed and numerous more were captured by Hamas militants - explained: "Nowhere appears as home now and until every captive come back none of us will be secure."

"When we see everyone home returned, we can breathe again. Then we can start to rebuild," she continued.

In front of the leader's official dwelling in Jerusalem, people assembled to demonstrate their support for the relatives of the abducted. Israel says 48 remain in detention in Gaza, approximately twenty of whom are believed to be alive.

Protester Atalia Regev remarked: "We must do any agreement required for the abducted to be released. But we sincerely need promises that we will be protected."

Surveys now frequently demonstrate that about the majority of the population desire the conflict to end in as payment for the liberation of the abducted.

Palestinian Conditions

At the site of the music event, grieving people came together to remember the victims.

From that location, the boom of military attacks and explosions could be noticed just a short distance away in Gaza, where observers said the heavy Israeli attacks continued.

In the main city, air and artillery strikes were documented in the morning of that day in the west side district, Rimal and Nasr areas and in the eastern district of the community, as well the camp to the northwestern area.

"When the night comes, the anxiety appears with it," displaced Gaza City resident Emaan al-Wahidi, whose young son was killed by an Israeli bombing last year, explained.

"We are terrified of the attacks. All the night we are resting together, holding each other, notably my little child who places his face on me throughout the night."

"Continuously we look at the updates to see the situation. And I'm afraid that this truce will not be achieved and that the war will resume to us."

Medical Crisis

The medical facility in the urban area announced it had received the remains of several people by the midday, including several killed in an Israeli bombing in the south part al-Sabra neighbourhood.

A different healthcare center in the south region of the city said additional dead people had been brought there. One of them was died by Israeli troops while looking for aid to the south region, health workers stated.

The territory's health ministry said a significant number of the {territ