7th of October Remembrance in Israel, Tone of Peace in Egypt: Key Talks between the Two Sides
7th of October Remembrance in Israel, Tone of Peace in Egypt: Key Talks between the Two Sides
That dark day two years ago, the seventh of October, will forever be a dark chapter in Israel's history. In the morning of 2023, rivers of blood flowed through the peaceful villages of southern Israel at the hands of Hamas-led invaders. Hundreds of young men and women were killed by Hamas while dancing at the funfair of the Nova Music Festival. In small settlements like Kibbutz Nir Oz and Kfar Aza, family members are awakened in their sleep by the sound of gunfire, and then comes the horror of kidnapping. About 1,200 innocent lives lost, 251 captured—these numbers are not just statistics, they are the tearful memories of thousands of families.
Today, the seventh of October 2025, there is a deep silence in the streets of Israel. People sit by candlelight in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, holding photos of lost loved ones. In small ceremonies in kibbutzim, parents tell the stories of their children who will never return. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's voice sounded firm: "We will oust the Hamas regime, bring back all the prisoners, and Gaza will never be a threat to us again." But in the middle of this commemoration is a shadow of sadness—the war has been going on for two years, more than 67,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza, and dozens of Israeli prisoners are still being held by Hamas. Society is fractured, everyone is asking: when will peace return?
This memorial day has opened a new door of hope. On the azure shores of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where the waves of the Red Sea sing a song of peace, peace talks between Israel and Hamas are underway. The meeting -- a joint effort by Egypt, Qatar and the United States -- is based on President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan. Israel's representative Ron Dermer, Hamas's Khalil al-Hayya—both sides sitting apart, mediators in the middle. Main topics of discussion: prisoner exchange, permanent ceasefire, free access of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The first day's talks were described as "positive," with Trump saying, "We're working on the final details. It's going to be a big deal for peace in the Middle East."
Imagine if the girls at the Nova Festival could still dance today, or if the children of the kibbutz could play without fear. If only the children of Gaza could live a normal life without hiding behind the bombs. This discussion is a step towards that dream. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "The horrors of October 7 will live forever in our memories, but this opportunity for peace cannot be ignored." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also recalled, "The inhumanity of that day does not diminish with time."
Still, the hope is that a deal will come off the Sharm el-Sheikh table that will heal both sides. May Israelis remember their lost loved ones, and may Palestinians dream of lasting peace. Because peace is not just a paper agreement, it is the return of smiles to thousands of families. October 7th will not only be a day of sadness, but maybe a day of new beginnings.
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