On Saturday night’s gathering in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, the giant screen on the back of the stage alternated with two sets of contrasting images, one of which was seen repeatedly by people coming to Israel over the past six days: 20 hostages who were released on Monday crying with their relatives and hand-held signs of thanks to the Israeli people. The other is a picture that has been unfamiliar to the nation for two years: 18 portraits of the deceased who have not yet returned—the fathers, sons and brothers whose bodies are still held in Gaza (Hamas handed over the bodies of two alleged hostages a few hours later).
The split screens on the stage reflect the contradictory mood of the audience and even the people across the country. The joy brought by the release of hostages six days ago has gradually been replaced by uncertainty and a sense of loss.
When miraculous rescues become a thing of the past, the country has to face the reality: it must continue to fight for those who have failed to return, although Israel has neither set a specific timetable nor guaranteed that they will eventually return.
The recent number of bodies being handed over in unidentified procedures is reminiscent of the weekly return of the dead during the ceasefire earlier this year. The relatives of the hostages who were killed are more concerned that public concerns about the fate of their loved ones will diminish as the survivors return.
"I came to the scene with fear, worried that there was no one in the square," said Ayelet Goldin, whose brother Hadar's body had been detained for eleven years."I was hopeful and faced with reality soberly."
Anxiety and determination spread through the crowd. Just a week ago, when the U.S. special envoy announced that “miracles would come,” there was a shock in the same place. Some even speculated that this was the end of the hostage release rally more than a hundred weeks later.
But this is not the case.On Saturday night, when the crowd gathered again, the stands for the sale of souvenir T-shirts and badges were still open, and the clocks recording the days of hostage detention were still ringing.
Claudia Rotem, who participated in two consecutive rallies, showed a bitter smile when asked if she still had the excitement of last week: "At that time, although everyone had doubts, they expected the situation to develop as planned. Now there is only sadness left, and we deeply doubt whether the expected results can be achieved."
The theme of the gathering was not to celebrate or say goodbye, but to transform a sense of overwhelming loss into a strong force to fight for the return of the deceased. When Anaf Zangok, the protagonist of the son’s rescue operation, stood on the podium, she declared in a joyful voice: “Mattan is home alive – but it must be emphasized that our battle is not over until the last deceased comes back.”
The theme spread throughout the gathering. While occasionally expressing gratitude for the 20 survivors and the return of the 10 dead, the speakers always focused on the compatriots who were still waiting. The banner high above the crowd read clearly: “President Trump, please take the last hostage home.”
Even the announcement in the middle of the game that more bodies will be delivered only stirred the applause.The unresolved mysteries surrounding everyone’s hearts remain: Who are these?
The hostage families share the same confusion. Goldin reminded the public that the organization that seized the remains is of the same origin as those who attacked southern Israel two years ago-and should not be trusted to voluntarily return the remaining dead. Calls rang out at the scene for the government to end the ceasefire agreement until all hostages returned.
When it came to comments by certain officials suggesting that the hostage crisis had been resolved, there were boos from the audience. Israel's Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana's deliberate move to remove the yellow ribbon badge before Trump's speech on Monday caused particular dissatisfaction.
Between speeches, people were reminded from time to time that the status quo had changed: photos of hostages hanging in nearby trees showed significantly fewer people still in Gaza than last week. But speakers always called on people to maintain their faith-even if it meant real celebrations had to wait until all families had been reunited.
“At this moment we are facing a difficult turn,” said Ella Haymi, the widow of the hostage, who killed Tal Hami, “the support and solidarity of the public remains, but this window may be closed at any time...We will never give up, I will never give up.”