Two years after the devastating Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israel stands at a crossroads, torn by grief, division, and the faint hope of peace. On October 7, 2025, thousands gathered across southern Israel to remember the horrors of that day, as the nation marked the somber anniversary amid ongoing war in Gaza and delicate negotiations that could finally bring a ceasefire.
In Tel Aviv, the main memorial event was organized not by the government, but by bereaved families—an emblem of the deep rifts that have emerged in Israeli society. The government’s own ceremony is scheduled for the following week, according to the Hebrew calendar, highlighting the discord over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership. Many Israelis blame Netanyahu for failing to secure a ceasefire that would see the remaining hostages released from Gaza, a wound that continues to fester as the conflict drags on.
According to the Associated Press, the attack two years ago was the deadliest in Israel’s history. Thousands of Hamas-led militants stormed army bases, farming communities, and an outdoor music festival, killing about 1,200 people—mostly civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. They abducted 251 others, and while most have since been released in various deals, 48 hostages remain inside Gaza. Israel believes around 20 of them are still alive. Hamas has insisted it will only release the hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu, however, has remained steadfast, vowing to continue military operations until all captives are returned and Hamas is disarmed. This hardline stance has sparked weekly mass protests across Israel, with citizens demanding action and accountability. As Shay Dickmann, whose aunt was killed and cousin taken hostage, told AP, “There is a deal on the table, there is an opportunity to end this war and bring everybody back home. We all deserve it.”
The war’s toll on Gaza has been catastrophic. The Health Ministry in Gaza, part of the Hamas-run government, reports over 67,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began. About 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced, often multiple times, as Israeli offensives razed entire towns and cities. Restrictions on humanitarian aid have led to a severe hunger crisis, with experts warning that Gaza City is experiencing famine. “We’ve lost the beautiful moments. Our life has become hell upon hell. Every day, there is killing, strikes, death, martyrdom,” Ghassan Abu Rejeila told AP. Dr. Maha Shbeir, working at Nasser Hospital, echoed the trauma: “I’ve seen cases of children, elderly people, women, cases of amputation, burns, head injuries. I don’t know how we will recover in the future from them, from those scenes that we’ve seen.”
Israel’s military campaign has not been limited to Gaza. The offensive has spilled over into Lebanon and Syria, targeting Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups. The United States joined Israel in a 12-day war against Iran in June, striking military and nuclear sites. Israel claims to have depleted the capabilities of its enemies and seized control over most of Gaza, as well as parts of Lebanon and Syria. But the cost has been high—international isolation, accusations of war crimes, and a country more divided than ever.
The International Criminal Court is seeking the arrest of Netanyahu and his former defense minister for allegedly using starvation as a method of war, charges Israel vehemently denies. According to AP, Israel maintains it is waging a lawful war of self-defense and accuses Hamas of embedding itself in civilian areas, making civilian casualties inevitable. Meanwhile, Hamas frames its October 7 attack as a response to decades of Israeli land seizures, settlement construction, and occupation, but the outcome has only deepened Palestinian suffering and dashed hopes for an independent state.
Against this backdrop, indirect peace talks are underway in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Negotiators from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey are working to finalize a deal based on US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. According to CNN, President Trump said on October 8, 2025, that a Gaza ceasefire deal is “very close” and that he might travel to the Middle East as soon as Sunday. “I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly,” Trump told reporters, after receiving a handwritten message from Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a White House roundtable.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Israel’s chief negotiator Ron Dermer held expanded meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh, as reported by Egyptian state-affiliated media. Hamas and Israel have exchanged lists of hostages and prisoners to be released as part of a potential deal. A senior Hamas official told CNN, “We are very close to an agreement, what’s still pending is the list of prisoners (to be) exchanged.” The details are being hammered out, including the timeline for releasing hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a note of cautious optimism, saying, “We’re getting very positive reports, as of an hour ago... but there’s still work to be done.” He added, “I feel optimistic that we’re going to get to a deal, hopefully, that hostages will be released—all the hostages. There’s good progress being made.” Rubio noted that, under the proposed deal, hostages would be released “almost immediately,” ideally within 72 hours.
Yet, challenges remain. Israeli officials have acknowledged that Hamas may not be able to return all the remains of deceased hostages, complicating negotiations. Critics of Netanyahu allege he sometimes introduces new conditions for political reasons, especially when a breakthrough seems near. The Israeli cabinet must approve any deal involving prisoner releases, and the High Court of Justice can review challenges before implementation.
Meanwhile, violence continues across the region. On October 8, 2025, Israeli settler gunfire killed a 26-year-old Palestinian man, Jihad Muhammad Ajaj, in Deir Jarir in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. At least three others were injured. The United Nations reports that at least 999 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the war began.
Tensions also flared in Jerusalem, where far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, drawing condemnation from Arab nations and the Palestinian Authority, who accused him of trying to “inflame the region” and “sabotage” the ceasefire plan.
As negotiations inch forward, the world watches anxiously. The pain of October 7, 2023, lingers in Israel’s collective memory, while Gaza’s suffering continues unabated. The coming days could see a breakthrough—or another heartbreaking setback. For now, families on both sides wait, hoping for news that will finally bring their loved ones home and an end to the years of violence.