Hope and Grief Collide as Gaza Peace Talks Advance on War’s Two-Year Anniversary
The Shadow of October 7
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — On Tuesday, as Israel quietly marked two years since the Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people, a delicate and unlikely hope flickered in an Egyptian resort town hundreds of miles away.
In Sharm el-Sheikh, Egyptian and Qatari mediators moved between separate rooms holding Israeli and Hamas delegations, working to bridge gaps that have thwarted peace efforts for months. The talks, which began Monday and continued Tuesday afternoon, are focused on a U.S. peace proposal that has received unprecedented international backing and, for the first time in many rounds of negotiation, a measure of optimism from all sides .
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that he thought there was a “really good chance” of a lasting deal. “This is beyond Gaza,” he said. “Gaza is a big deal, but this is really peace in the Middle East” .
A Somber Anniversary
The second day of negotiations fell on a painful anniversary for Israelis. Two years ago, on October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and abducting 251 others back to Gaza. The attack, the bloodiest day for Jews since the Holocaust, triggered the devastating war that has followed .
Commemorations across Israel were subdued, falling on the holiday of Sukkot. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of people gathered at Hostages Square, meditating over art installations and memorials to those still in captivity. Israel believes that about 20 living hostages are still being held in Gaza, along with the remains of 28 others who have died .
“I couldn’t stop thinking about what we went through,” said Nitzan Kaner, 37, who survived the attack on her kibbutz, Kfar Aza, where she was trapped for about 30 hours as militants attacked. “Some say what happened is receding into the distance, but for me, it’s stronger than ever” .
At the site of the Nova music festival, where more than 360 people were killed, thousands returned to lay flowers, light candles, and hold a moment of silence. Anat Magnezi held a poster with a photo of her son Amit, 22, who was killed, over her own face. “I wish that all the world would see this and know what happened to us and that it is real,” she said. “But all the world is against us now” .
The Human Toll in Gaza
The Israeli military response, now entering its third year, has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not make difference between civilians and soldiers but says more than half of the deaths were women and children. The United Nations and many independent experts thinks that these figures are the most reliable estimate of current war casualties .
The war has flattened thousands of buildings, displaced most of Gaza’s population, and pushed parts of the territory into famine. A recent analysis of satellite data estimated that as many as 197,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed .
“It’s been two years that we are living in fear, horror, displacement and destruction,” said Mohammed Dib, a 49-year-old Palestinian in Gaza . Another displaced Palestinian, Ahmed al-Haddad, 51, said the suffering had surpassed what his grandparents described about the “Nakba,” or “catastrophe,” of 1948, when Palestinians were displaced during Israel’s war for independence. “This war is the harshest, the most merciless,” he said. “It feels like history repeating itself, only harder” .
Here is a summary of the key figures after two years of war:
| Aspect | Israeli Figures | Palestinian Figures |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2023 Attack | ~1,200 killed, 251 taken hostage | — |
| Current Hostages | 48 remain in Gaza (20 believed alive) | — |
| War Casualties | — | 67,160+ killed, 169,780+ wounded |
| Child Fatalities | — | 18,000+ |
| Infrastructure | — | 197,000+ buildings damaged or destroyed |
The Sticking Points in Egypt
The current talks are considered among the most consequential since the war began . They focus on a 20-point plan proposed by the Trump administration that envisions a ceasefire, the release of hostages, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the territory being placed under international governance .
An Egyptian official with knowledge of the discussions said that after several hours of talks Monday, the parties had agreed on most of the first-phase terms, which include the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire .
However, significant obstacles remain. Senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum stated the group’s demands include a “permanent, comprehensive ceasefire,” a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid . Crucially, the plan also demands that Hamas disarm and relinquish its role in governing Gaza—conditions the group has so far avoided accepting .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing pressure from far-right coalition partners, has long insisted that Hamas must be dismantled and cannot have a future role in Gaza . A former Israeli consul, Alon Pinkas, expressed concern about Mr. Netanyahu’s commitment to the deal, telling CNN he believed the prime minister was being “cornered” into accepting it .
A Fragile Hope
As the talks continue, with a U.S. delegation including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner expected to join on Wednesday, the mood is one of cautious hope .
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the hostilities have created “a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defied comprehension,” and he urged parties to seize the opportunity presented by Trump’s proposal .
That hope is felt by civilians on both sides of the border. “It’s like an open wound, the hostages, I can’t believe it’s been two years and they are still not home,” said Hilda Weisthal, 43, in Israel .
In Gaza, where the sound of Israeli airstrikes and artillery could still be heard early Tuesday, the desire for an end to the suffering is equally powerful . “We pray to God that this war will end as soon as possible, today instead of tomorrow,” said Sanaa Adwan, a displaced woman in Khan Younis .
For the families of the hostages and the people of Gaza, the talks in Egypt represent more than a political agreement. They are a test of whether two years of grief and destruction can finally give way to peace.
Author: Junaid Arif
Date: 7 Oct, 2025
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