On the 7th, the day marking the second year since the war in the Gaza Strip began (local time), events to commemorate victims of Hamas' surprise attack were held across Israel.
According to foreign media reports that day, hundreds of mourners gathered at the Kfar Aza kibbutz on the Gaza border and observed a one-minute silence starting at 6:29 a.m., the time the attack began.
At 11 a.m. the same day, a memorial was held at the site of the Nova music festival near the Re'im kibbutz in southern Israel. Dozens of bereaved family members attended the memorial.
In the Nir Oz kibbutz, which suffered the greatest damage, a memorial will be held at 6 p.m. that day. At 9:30 p.m., a memorial for bereaved families will continue at HaYarkon Park in Tel Aviv.
The Associated Press said the memorial events that day were led by bereaved families rather than the government. An Israeli government-led memorial is said to be scheduled for the 16th.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a surprise attack across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, exactly two years ago, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The number of hostages still held by Hamas is currently 48 (20 survivors), according to reports.
Israel and Hamas began indirect talks for a hostage release and cease-fire the previous day in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, following a Gaza peace initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Local sources said the first day of talks, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, ended on a positive note, and both sides are set to continue additional negotiations that afternoon.