As Israel prepared to mourn on the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack, talks to end the devastating war in Gaza were expected to continue on Tuesday in Egypt, with the focus on a hostages-for-prisoners swap proposed by the Trump administration.
The grim anniversary falls on Sukkot, a Jewish harvest festival. Most businesses across Israel will be closed for the holiday and the government has delayed formal commemorations until later this month. As a consequence, the mood is expected to be subdued.
Some relatives of hostages gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence on Monday night to hold a holiday prayer service and to call for an end to the conflict.
Einav Zangkauer, whose son Matan is a captive in Gaza, addressed President Trump in a video from the event. “Please end this nightmare,” she said. “Please make it happen.”
She was referring to a plan to end the war and bring home the hostages that President Trump unveiled last month, being discussed in Egypt this week. And Ms. Zangkauer was expressing a sentiment shared by many.
“Everyone wants it to happen,” President Trump said on Monday evening at a briefing in the White House, speaking of his peace proposal. “Even Hamas.”
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