Israel marks two years since Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught with solemn memorials and steadfast resolve as negotiations over hostages proceed in Egypt.
Across Israel, somber silence will fall on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, as the nation mourns the 1,200 innocent lives brutally taken by Hamas terrorists two years ago—the darkest day in modern Israeli history. The massacre, which struck without warning on Shabbat and Simchat Torah, ignited a war that reshaped the Middle East and reaffirmed Israel’s unbreakable will to survive.
While indirect ceasefire and hostage-release talks between Israel and Hamas continue in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Israelis are gathering at cemeteries, synagogues, and memorial sites across the country to remember the victims—families, soldiers, and children whose lives were extinguished by the Gaza-based terror organization.
The main national memorial ceremony, organized by bereaved families rather than the government, reflects both profound grief and a raw debate over leadership and accountability. Many mourners are calling for renewed national unity, urging Israelis to focus not on politics but on the shared mission of bringing home the remaining 48 hostages still held captive in Gaza.
“Our tears have not dried, but neither has our determination,” said one father whose son was killed defending Kibbutz Be’eri. “We are alive because Israel refuses to surrender to terror.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces mounting domestic pressure, has directed Israel’s negotiators to adhere strictly to President Donald Trump’s peace framework and to reject any Hamas attempts to distort or delay the deal. Trump’s plan—currently under discussion in Egypt—aims to secure a lasting ceasefire, the hostages’ release, and the dismantling of Hamas’s terror infrastructure once and for all.
In Gaza, Hamas continues to exploit its own civilians as human shields while Israel’s defensive operations target remaining terrorist strongholds. The IDF has repeatedly warned that it will resume full-scale operations if Hamas refuses to comply with the terms of the proposed ceasefire.
Even as Israel grieves, it stands united in its belief that the October 7 victims must be remembered not through despair, but through resilience. Vigils throughout Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Negev have been lit with the blue-and-white of the Israeli flag—each candle representing life, hope, and the unbroken spirit of a nation that has faced darkness before and endured.
“We will never forget, and we will never stop fighting for life,” said President Isaac Herzog in a televised address. “October 7 will forever remind us of what evil looks like—and of how good must prevail.”
