Mass gathering in Tel Aviv marks emotional turning point
More than 150,000 people filled Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, transforming the city centre into a sea of candles, flags, and emotion. The massive rally — the largest since the war began — was organised by the Hostage Families Forum to honour those still held by Hamas and to urge national unity before the anticipated release of the last hostages in the coming days.
Under the slogan “Thank you, people of Israel,” families, survivors, and supporters came together to express gratitude to the public for standing by them through a year of anguish. The event, held at the symbolic square renamed in memory of the captives, resonated with songs, testimonies, and speeches calling for justice and peace.
‘The struggle is not over’ — families demand vigilance
“The struggle is not over until the last hostage is home,” declared representatives of the Hostage Families Forum, whose activism has kept the issue alive in Israel’s political and social consciousness.
The Forum urged the government to ensure that the latest agreement with Hamas is “fully implemented without delay,” warning that any hesitation could jeopardise the delicate ceasefire and the safe return of the remaining captives.
Relatives held portraits of their loved ones, many of whom have been missing since October 7, 2023 — the day Hamas militants stormed Israeli border communities, killing more than 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.
Trump’s envoys attend, symbolising renewed U.S. interest
Among the notable attendees were Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who have maintained close ties with several hostage families. Their presence reflected the renewed diplomatic engagement by Washington as the former U.S. president prepares to return to the region.
Trump’s planned visit to Israel on Monday is expected to last four hours and include meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hostage families, as well as a speech to the Knesset at 11 a.m. According to Israel’s Channel 12, his arrival marks a symbolic effort to reassert U.S. influence in the fragile post-war environment and to promote his proposed Gaza peace plan.
Hamas rejects evacuation clause in Trump plan
In Doha, Hamas political bureau member Hussam Badran denounced the plan’s provision for the removal of Hamas members from Gaza as “absurd and foolish.” Speaking to Agence France-Presse, Badran said the organisation would not accept any deal that forces Palestinians to leave their land.
He admitted that negotiations for the second phase of Trump’s plan would be “difficult and complex,” but warned that Hamas is prepared to resume fighting if talks collapse. “We hope not to return to war, but if aggression is imposed upon us again, the resistance will respond with all its strength,” he said.
A nation torn between hope and caution
The juxtaposition of Tel Aviv’s hopeful rally and Hamas’ defiance highlights Israel’s precarious moment. A nation longs for closure after months of grief but faces profound uncertainty about what comes next.
For many Israelis, the rally was not just about the hostages — it was about collective identity, resilience, and moral responsibility. “This is a national reckoning,” said one participant. “We cannot move forward until every life is accounted for.”
As Trump’s aircraft prepares to land at Ben Gurion Airport, the world’s eyes turn once again to a region where hope and heartbreak coexist — and where every gesture carries the weight of history.
