Grief... as sound of war over border rings out

Battle rages as Israelis mourn

- By CHRIS HUGHES Defence Editor at the Nova Festival site, southern Israel. Pictures by ANDY STENNING

AMID the intolerable grief and mourning at the site of mass murder by Hamas, the sound of gunfire filled the air as across the border, war still rages in Gaza.

On the second anniversary of the October 7 atrocities yesterday, Israelis gathered to pay their respects to those killed at the Nova music festival in the first wave of the attacks.

But the dignified silences of families and friends honouring those young victims was peppered by the noise of tank shells and artillery fire as the killing in Gaza continued.

It came as Israel and Hamas talks went on in Egypt, raising hopes of peace among war-weary Palestinians and anguished Israelis awaiting the release of hostages.

At the Nova site, 400 revellers were among the 1,200 killed on October 7, 2023 the deadliest day ever on Israeli soil. They had been partying through the night when Hamas militants arrived on their murder mission, before also kidnapping 250 people.