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Welcome to the News Hour. Today marks two years since Hamas launched its deadly October 7th attacks on Israel.

Commemoration are taking place across Israel today as delegations representing Israel and Hamas are in Egypt for

indirect ceasefire talks.

The ceasefire negotiations over the war in Gaza that continued in Egypt today center

on a new two-part U.S. proposal.

The first phase calls for a ceasefire, a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of hostages

held by Hamas, in exchange for up to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.

The second phase focuses on establishing a long-term governance structure for Gaza, but the

two sides remain far apart.

A Hamas spokesman said any deal must guarantee an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal.

Terms Israel has never accepted.

Israel, in turn, insists Hamas must disarm, a condition the group continues to reject.

While in Gaza today, health officials said the death toll had surpassed 67,000, 30 percent of them children.

And Israeli forces today continued shelling Gaza despite the ongoing talks, as Israel marks the second

anniversary of the bloodiest terror attack in that nation's history.

The October 7th attacks, the terrorist group Hamas, killing some 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others.

There are believed to be 50 hostages still held in Gaza, 20 believed to be alive.

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