It's Tuesday, October the 7th, 2025, and this is Denison Forum's Daily Article Podcast.

I'm Chris Elkins, narrator, voicing today's daily article, authored by cultural theologian, Dr. Jim Denison.

Negotiations began in Egypt yesterday to finalize a deal based on President Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan.

The talks are expected to last a few days with a focus on a proposed hostage for prisoner swap.

The negotiations began on the eve of one of the most tragic anniversaries in Jewish history. Hamas's surprise attack

on October the 7th, 2023, is considered the deadliest and most brutal terrorist assault in

Israel's history. Hamas is celebrating today's anniversary as a glorious day in a message calling

the invading terrorists heroes.

Lest we forget, these quote-unquote heroes killed 1,195 people, including 815 civilians.

Evidence and autopsies later revealed widespread sexual violence with dozens of Israeli women raped, sexually abused, or mutilated.

In addition, the terrorists took 251 hostages. Here's what we know about them. 146 have been freed or rescued, while 83 have been confirmed killed.

37 were under the age of 18.

Eight were 81 years of age or older.

51 were women, some of whom were starved, intimidated, and threatened by armed men.

13 women and two men who survived captivity said they experienced or witnessed sexual violence while held in Gaza.

About 20 living hostages remain captive in desperate conditions, according to Israeli officials,

and about 25 more are believed to have died, but their bodies have not been returned.

Why did Hamas take them two years ago?

The answers are not only relevant to peace in the Middle East, but a window into human nature.

According to the British Policy Institute, Chatham House, Hamas took hostages on October

the 7th for five reasons.

1. To be used as human shields in the face of Israel's counterattack.

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