Israelis across the country are gathering on Tuesday to mark two years since the October 7 attack, when Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251 others in the deadliest assault in Israel’s history. The day will be filled with vigils, memorials, and protests — a solemn reminder of the trauma that still grips the nation as hopes rise for a potential deal to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza.
Unofficial commemorations are taking place in the southern kibbutzim where many residents were killed or kidnapped, while a large rally is being held in Tel Aviv calling for the government to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas. The official national remembrance ceremony will be held on October 16 at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, following the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
The pain of the October 7 massacre remains visible across Israel. Posters bearing the faces of the hostages still in captivity cover city streets, and burned-out homes in border communities stand as haunting reminders of the attack. Survivors of the Nova music festival, where hundreds were killed, gathered on Sunday for a memorial service alongside bereaved families and former hostages.
“This angel would have been 27 today. I live the memory as if it were an hour ago,” said Ofir Dor, whose son Idan was killed at the festival, as he stood beneath a wall of photos honoring the victims.
The anniversary comes as indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed in Egypt this week, aimed at securing the release of the remaining hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, along with an initial Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza. The talks have generated more optimism than any previous round since the collapse of a ceasefire in mid-March.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce a breakthrough “in the coming days,” while former U.S. President Donald Trump warned Hamas of “total obliteration” if no agreement is reached. Some commemoration events have turned into protests demanding that Netanyahu accept Trump’s proposed plan to end the war. At a rally in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Saturday night, families of the captives urged the government to act swiftly to “bring them home.”
In Gaza, civilians are waiting anxiously to see whether a ceasefire will materialize. Despite Trump’s call for Israel to halt airstrikes in anticipation of a deal, bombardments have continued. Gaza’s health ministry said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, including two civilians seeking aid.
Tuesday also marks two years since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in catastrophic loss of life and destruction. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and about 170,000 wounded since 2023. The ministry also reports that at least 460 people have died from starvation, as aid agencies warn that famine conditions are emerging in parts of the enclave due to what they describe as Israel’s blockade — a claim Israel denies.
A UN commission of inquiry, several human rights groups, and the International Association of Genocide Scholars have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has rejected those allegations, maintaining that its military actions are acts of self-defense.
As Israelis mourn the victims of October 7 and demand the return of the hostages, the commemorations this year carry an added weight — a fragile hope that the war that began two years ago might finally draw to a close.
