(NewsNation) — Tuesday marked two years since images of Hamas fighters storming Gaza shocked the world and triggered a brutal war in the region.
Militants killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250, including American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, who was just 19 years old when he was taken and spent 19 months in captivity.
Today, Alexander is set to meet with President Trump for a second time since his release, as the world waits to see if the White House’s latest truce offer will finally bring the remaining 48 hostages home.
Peace conversations continue in Egypt, where American negotiators Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are meeting with top Israeli negotiator Ron Dermer and Hamas representatives.
This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepted some elements of the U.S. peace plan, a move welcomed by Trump. Israel has said it supports the new U.S. effort. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 believed to be alive — within three days.
Gaza’s health ministry said Monday that 67,160 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war. The ministry, part of Hamas’ government but widely considered a reliable source by the U.N. and independent experts, says women and children make up about half of the dead.
RE’IM, ISRAEL – OCTOBER 7: People gather at the former site of the Nova music festival to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks on October 7, 2025 in Re’im, Israel. The Nova site, near the Gaza border, was one of the first places attacked in the Hamas-led raid on Oct. 7, 2023, and has since become a memorial for the victims. In total, 251 hostages were taken and around 1,200 people were killed on that day, making it the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. In response to the attacks, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, which has so far killed more than 67,000 people and displaced around 90% of the enclave’s population of 2.1 million. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) 
RE’IM, ISRAEL – OCTOBER 7: People gather at the former site of the Nova music festival to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks on October 7, 2025 in Re’im, Israel. The Nova site, near the Gaza border, was one of the first places attacked in the Hamas-led raid on Oct. 7, 2023, and has since become a memorial for the victims. In total, 251 hostages were taken and around 1,200 people were killed on that day, making it the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. In response to the attacks, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, which has so far killed more than 67,000 people and displaced around 90% of the enclave’s population of 2.1 million. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) 
RE’IM, ISRAEL – OCTOBER 7: People visit a memorial site for victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in a bomb shelter on October 7, 2025 in Re’im, Israel. Dozens of Kfar Aza residents were killed in the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which is being commemorated across Israel today. During the attacks, 251 hostages were taken and around 1,200 people were killed, making it the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. In response to the attacks, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, which has so far killed more than 67,000 people and displaced around 90% of the enclave’s population of 2.1 million. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Gal Gilboa-Dalal, brother of Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told NewsNation he believes this moment in time could be make or break for peace.
“I’m worried to my brother more than anything in the world. I want to see him back more than anything in the world; he’s all I care about,” he said. “We understand that this time period, we have to get to a deal, otherwise this war will never end.”
It’s a call echoed by many on the ground in Gaza, who are hoping for the Egypt talks to result in lasting peace.
“We hope with Trump’s plan, the war would stop, to return to our homes, go home with our children, live a decent life like the children of the world are living,” displaced Palestinian Shireen Dawaba said. “Our children have not been to school for two years.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.