Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Oct 7: Two years after Hamas launched a devastating surprise attack on Israel during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, the nation is still grappling with the scars of its bloodiest day.

On October 7, 2023, heavily armed Hamas militants breached the Gaza-Israel border, launching coordinated assaults on southern Israeli towns and a desert music festival. What followed was a day of unprecedented violence—over 1,000 people were killed, and 251 hostages were taken into Gaza. To date, 48 of those abducted remain in captivity, with 25 confirmed dead, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The attack occurred during the conclusion of Sukkot, one of Judaism’s holiest festivals, and coincided with the Sabbath, leaving Israeli forces underprepared and severely undermanned. Intelligence warnings, it later emerged, had been downplayed by Israel’s political and military leadership, who believed Hamas was focused on preserving stability.

Now, as Israel marks the second anniversary of the attack, memorials are taking place across the country. The IDF has been placed on its highest state of alert throughout the ongoing Sukkot holiday, in anticipation of potential escalations.

“This day reshaped Israel’s sense of security forever,” said a senior defense official. “It marked not just a tragic loss of life, but a failure of readiness that we can never afford to repeat.”

In the aftermath of the attack, Israel launched a massive military campaign against Hamas, extending far beyond Gaza. Strikes have reportedly targeted multiple regional capitals, including Tehran, and resulted in the deaths of high-ranking Hamas members and Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Despite the military gains, international pressure to end the war has intensified. Both sides are now facing a turning point as diplomatic efforts gain traction.

Earlier this week, former U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan proposing:

• An immediate ceasefire contingent on the release of all hostages,
• The disarmament of Hamas, and
• A phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Indirect negotiations began Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, with international mediators working to bridge gaps between the Israeli and Hamas delegations. While both parties have publicly welcomed the U.S. proposal, insiders caution that reaching agreement on its terms will be extremely difficult.

Two previous ceasefires brokered last year resulted in the release of some hostages, but each truce was short-lived.

As Israel reflects on the trauma of October 7 and its ongoing military campaign, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges—but now, also, a fragile glimmer of hope.