Hamas attack on Israel: Two years later, Bay Area Jewish leaders hopeful recent peace talks will end war

SARASOTA, Fla. - Two years after the brutal attack Hamas launched on Israel , the Jewish community in Tampa Bay is reflecting on the attack.

The backstory:

Since the attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, there are still 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Hamas launched an early morning surprise attack on Israel, brutally killing 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 250 people hostage.

A young woman who has family in Clearwater was among the hostages, taken from a music festival. She was held captive for 246 days, until she was rescued.

The massacre triggered ongoing attacks by both Hamas and the IDF, the Israeli military. The IDF carried out a brutal retaliation, killing more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

Over the last two years, Hamas has released some h