Thousands of people converged on southern Israel on Tuesday to mourn the dead as the nation marked two years since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack plunged the region into a devastating war, while Israel and Hamas pressed on with indirect peace talks in Egypt.

The main memorial is being organized by the bereaved families, separate from a ceremony that the government will hold on the anniversary next week according to the Hebrew calendar. The split reflects deep divisions over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's leadership, which many blame for the failure to secure a ceasefire that would free the remaining hostages held by the militants.

The European Union is seeking a role in U.S. President Donald Trump’s transitional authority for the Gaza Strip, its top diplomat Kaja Kallas told reporters on Monday.

"Yes we feel that Europe has a great role and we should be also on board with this," foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, when asked if the EU wanted to take part in Trump’s "Board of Peace".

Some of the activists detained while trying to reach Gaza by sea have returned to their home countries to describe mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards, claims that Israel denies.

Some 450 activists were arrested as Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken territory. Those detained between Wednesday and Friday were brought to Israel, where many remain in prison.

Hundreds of thousands of people across several European cities marched Sunday in support of Palestinians and an aid flotilla 's attempt to reach Gaza.

Israeli and Hamas officials are set to hold indirect talks at an Egyptian resort Monday on a U.S.-drafted peace plan to end the ruinous war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary.

Many uncertainties remain about the plan presented by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, including the disarmament of the militant group — a key Israeli demand — and the future governance of Gaza. Trump is seeking an agreement on Gaza, which he has indicated could pave the way for a revamped Middle East peace process that could reshape the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Hamas and Israeli negotiators gathering in Egypt for crucial talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza to "move fast," adding that there had been "very positive discussions" with the Palestinian armed group.

"There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East," he posted on his Truth Social platform.

A senior Hamas official on Sunday said the Palestinian militant group is eager to reach an agreement to end the war and implement a prisoner swap with Israel, as negotiators converge in Egypt for talks.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that the military's offensive in Gaza City has so far displaced approximately 900,000 Palestinians.

Israeli and Hamas negotiators were converging on Cairo Sunday for talks to end nearly two years of war in Gaza, with Israel's leader expressing hope that hostages held in the devastated territory could be released within days.

Turkey said 36 of its citizens were expected to return home via a special flight on Saturday afternoon, after Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.