It was the moment Israelis had dreamt of through 738 days of national anguish. On Monday morning, after months of failed negotiations when their safe return had looked less and less likely, the last 20 living hostages seized by Hamas on the darkest day in Israel’s history finally came home.
“All the living hostages have been released,” the emcee at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv announced to a crowd of thousands of Israelis who had been gathering in the downtown plaza since the early hours of the morning in the hope of sharing the long-awaited moment of national catharsis.
“That’s it. How good that you have all returned home.”
The square – the epicentre of the campaign to free the 250 Israelis seized by Hamas in its attack on southern Israel on October 7th, 2023 – erupted with joy. Some hugged each other. Some chanted “home, home”. Others cried.
“It’s crazy to be here.
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