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It came as Hamas and Israeli negotiators held indirect talks in Egypt aimed at ending the two-year conflict, as part of a peace proposal put forward by United States President Donald Trump last week that would see the swift release of hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails in its initial stages.
The former site of the Nova music festival has become a memorial for the victims of the attack. Source: Getty / Chris McGrath
A large rally was scheduled in Tel Aviv to call for the release of the remaining hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza, while smaller, unofficial commemorations were held around the country. The day coincided with the beginning of Sukkot, a religious holiday in Israel.
Orit Baron, whose daughter Yuval was killed at the festival with her fiancé Moshe Shuva, told the Agence France-Press news agency that October 7 was a “black” day for her family.
A woman lights a candle at the Nir Oz Kibbutz cemetery during a ceremony commemorating the anniversary. Source: Getty / Dpa/picture alliance
“Now it’s two years. And I’m here to be with her, because this is the last time that she was alive,” the 57-year-old mother said at the site of the attack, adding she felt “that right now she’s with me here”.
Alma Shahaf, an Israeli soldier, mourns at a memorial for a friend killed at the Nova festival. Source: Getty / Chris McGrath
In an attack that shocked the world two years ago, Hamas fighters breached the Gaza-Israel border, storming southern Israeli communities and a desert music festival with gunfire, rockets and grenades.
Militants seized more than 200 hostages during the violence, according to the Israeli government, 47 of whom are still in Gaza. Of those, the Israeli military says 25 are dead.
People placed pictures of Israeli victims at the fountain of Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv. Source: EPA / Abir Sultan
In Tel Aviv, flowers and images were placed in Dizengoff Square to commemorate victims and hostages.
People embrace at a memorial in Tel Aviv. A rally was planned for later in the city. Source: AAP / Emilio Morenatti/AP
After two years of war, 72 per cent of the Israeli public said they were dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the war, according to a recent survey by the Institute for National Security Studies.
A woman carrying a rifle places photos of Israelis who were killed at a memorial in Tel Aviv. Source: AAP / Emilio Morenatti/AP
A state-organised commemoration of the attack is planned for 16 October after the Sukkot holiday period ends.
