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Israel 7 October, two years after the massacre: ceremonies and new tensions

– Anniversary of the Hamas attack: commemorations and protests for the hostages still held by Islamists –

Two years after the attack on 7 October 2023, Israel pauses to remember the victims of that day, which marked the beginning of the war against Hamas. The commemorations began in Kfar Aza and will continue until the evening, with ceremonies also in the kibbutz Nir Oz and Tel Aviv. At 11 a.m. local time, the commemoration began at the site of the Nova Festival massacre, while a vigil is scheduled for 9.30 p.m. in the centre of Israel’s economic capital.

Israel 7 October: protests by hostages’ families

At the same time, the atmosphere in the country remains tense. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the homes of ministers and parliamentarians, including Miri Regev, Gideon Sa’ar, Yuli Edelstein and Ariel Kallner, to demand an agreement leading to the release of hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.

At the same time, a rocket fired from Gaza triggered sirens in Netiv HaAsara, in southern Israel. According to the Times of Israel, the rocket did not cause any injuries. The town had already been hit during the attacks in 2023.

Hamas issued a statement referring to the “ongoing battle” and emphasising the “political and military repercussions” of the operation called Flood of al-Aqsa.

Israel 7 October: the search for peace in Sharm el-Sheikh

Meanwhile, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, talks mediated by Cairo and Qatar continue on Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan, which calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and an exchange mechanism between Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian and Israeli sources speak of a “positive first phase” of negotiations, which are expected to continue today with a new session of indirect meetings.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has renewed his call for a “permanent ceasefire” and the immediate release of hostages, denouncing the “humanitarian catastrophe” unfolding in the Strip. “We must choose hope now,” he wrote on X, adding that Trump’s plan represents an opportunity to end the conflict.

Guterres concluded by remembering the victims of that “dark day” and calling on the international community to work for “a just and lasting peace” that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to live “in security, dignity and mutual respect”.

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