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On the second anniversary of the Hamas attack, Herzog thanked Trump for peace efforts and hostage release, as talks continue in Egypt with Israel, Hamas, Qatar, and US officials
Israel President Isaac Herzog (PTI)
On the second anniversary of the Hamas attack, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has conveyed his gratitude to US President Donald Trump of his efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and for the release of hostages from Gaza.
In post on X shared on Tuesday, Herzog said: “Two years since that dark day, October 7 2023, the day Israel’s soul was torn apart, when Hamas terrorists unleashed unspeakable evil against innocent men, women, and children. From that darkness rose the courage of our soldiers, the heroism of our citizens, and the unity of a people who refused to break. We will not rest, we will not be silent, until all 48 hostages are home.”
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“As antisemitism surges like a tidal wave across the world, we stand shoulder to shoulder with Jewish communities everywhere. Israel remains a beacon of freedom and democracy in a turbulent region, and I truly believe that out of the pain of these years, a new era of cooperation and shared prosperity can yet be born,” he further said.
“From the depths of grief we draw strength; from the ashes of tragedy we build renewal. The story of Israel is the story of resilience, of a people who will never give up, never give in, and never stop believing that light will overcome the darkness,” he said.
The President also expressed gratitude to countries, including US President Donald Trump, for working towards bringing peace in the Middle East.
“As President of Israel, I thank our friends and partners around the world for the many heartfelt messages of solidarity and remembrance as we mark two years since October 7, and I extend special thanks to @POTUS @realDonaldTrump for his incredible efforts to bring all our hostages home and bring peace to the Middle East. I pray for the success of his efforts and the success of the negotiating teams,” he added.
Hamas launched a surprise attack called Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken. The attacks triggered a devastating military response by Israel, which killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and reduced Gaza to rubble, leading to a widespread humanitarian crisis.
According to CNN, Israeli, Palestinian, Qatari and US officials are all set to convene for ongoing negotiations to end Israel’s war in Gaza, and release the hostages held by Hamas in the enclave.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will likely be reaching Egypt on Wednesday. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani will head to Sharm el-Sheikh for peace talks on Wednesday, according to the Qatari Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson.
In a post on X, spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said that Al-Thani’s participation “comes at a critical stage of the talks, reaffirming the determination of the mediators to reach an agreement that would bring an end to the catastrophic war in the Gaza Strip.”
Israel and Hamas have made “progress” during the first two days of negotiations in Egypt, CNN reported.
Last week, US President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan calling for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The plan received positive responses from both Israel and Hamas and prompted talks in Egypt.
Trump, who unveiled the peace blueprint last week, said resolving the Gaza crisis could “reset the Middle East peace process.” Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi praised the effort, calling it vital to preserving regional stability.
Israel
October 08, 2025, 01:00 IST
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