Israel Shells Gaza Amid Ceasefire Talks on Anniversary of October 7 Attack

On the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Israel shelled and bombed Gaza while Egyptian-, Qatari-, and US-mediated ceasefire talks proceeded in Sharm el‑Sheikh.

Gaza health and local media sources said Israeli airstrikes and artillery killed at least 70 Palestinians, including children, with some reports specifying seven children among the dead.

news24online

The bombardment hit residential areas and aid centers.

Other outlets reported additional fatalities from Israeli strikes during the talks.

Mediators described initial discussions as positive and centered on a swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and partial Israeli withdrawals inside Gaza.

This occurred even as Israel kept firing into densely populated areas.

Negotiators are working from a US-proposed 20-point plan linked to a ceasefire, hostage-prisoner exchanges, staged Israeli withdrawals, and Gaza’s demilitarization.

Coverage diverges over governance: some describe an interim technocratic administration supervised by Donald Trump and international figures, while others note proposals to exclude Hamas from rule, transfer weapons to Egypt, and bar Israeli annexation.

Novinite

Hamas presses for an end to Israeli occupation, recognition of a Palestinian state, and binding guarantees before disarming.

Israel signals it wants a buffer zone and continued military presence tied to Hamas compliance, and Netanyahu has rejected moving forward without hostage releases.

Reports document a staggering Palestinian death toll and widespread destruction from Israel’s bombardment and siege.

“Egypt urged all parties to take responsibility by implementing the key aspects of Trump's plan, which calls for ending military operations, allowing unrestricted humanitarian aid, and releasing detainees”

وكالة صدى نيوز

Multiple sources and officials use the word genocide to describe Israel’s actions.

Gaza’s Health Ministry counts more than 67,000 Palestinians killed, about half of whom are women and children.

The region faces famine and devastation of hospitals.

Al Jazeera reports at least 20,000 children killed and 169,000 injured since Israel escalated its campaign after October 7.

International outlets note that the UN and rights groups accuse Israel of genocide.

The International Criminal Court is pursuing Israeli leaders over starvation used as a war tactic.

Israel denies the accusation of genocide in some coverage.

Despite talk of de-escalation, Israel continued strikes and shelling across Gaza City and other areas.

Israel ordered people not to return to northern districts it has pulverized.

Noticias Salamanca - Tribuna

Media and officials described drones and artillery killing civilians, hospitals running out of fuel, and Israeli attacks hitting residential areas and al-Shifa hospital.

Independent reporting and officials also stressed there is no ceasefire in effect, even as Trump urged Israel to halt bombing for hostage releases.

A senior Vatican diplomat condemned Israel’s actions as an “ongoing massacre” of a largely defenseless population.

Inside Israel, the anniversary revealed public anger over the ongoing conflict and the unresolved hostage situation.

“Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on full acceptance of the plan and refuses to negotiate on a Palestinian state”

Noticias Salamanca - Tribuna

Israel continued its airstrikes on Gaza during this period.

The Statesman

Families of hostages and their supporters held protests before dawn and early in the morning outside government ministers' homes and at memorial sites.

These protests demanded a resolution to the hostage crisis.

Prime Minister Netanyahu faced criticism for inaccurately stating the number of hostages.

Both domestic and international memorials expressed grief and increased pressure to bring the conflict to an end.

Reports indicated that Netanyahu maintained close communication with former President Trump to speed up negotiation efforts.