Flares and explosions light up night sky over Gaza on Oct. 7 anniversarybr br Flares streaked across the skies and descended into Gaza as explosions echoed through the early hours of October 7, the second anniversary of the Hamas attack.br Delegations from Israel and Hamas held their first day of indirect negotiations in Egypt on Monday, October 6, on US President Donald Trump's plan to halt the war in Gaza, wrestling with contentious issues such as demands that Israel withdraw and Hamas disarm.br Israel and Hamas have both endorsed the overall principles behind Trump's plan, under which fighting would cease, hostages go free and aid pour into Gaza.br Trump has pushed Israel to suspend its bombing of Gaza for the talks. Gaza residents said Israel had scaled back its offensive substantially, although not halted it altogether.