The dismantling of Hostages Square in central Tel Aviv marks the closing chapter of one of Israel’s most influential civil society movements in recent history. For nearly two years, the square served as the emotional and strategic heart of the campaign to bring home Israelis abducted during the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.
Of the 251 hostages taken, 168 were returned alive and eight rescued. Only one, police officer Ran Gvili, killed while trying to save civilians during the attack, has yet to be recovered. His family now gathers each Friday with a small group of supporters, replacing mass protests with prayers and candlelight ceremonies.
From grief to mobilisation
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum began in chaos and despair. In the days following the attacks, relatives of the missing gathered in an underground car park in Tel Aviv, sheltering from rocket fire while desperately seeking information. What emerged from that moment was a collective resolve: no family would stand alone.
The group quickly became a lifeline for families who were grieving, displaced, or living in uncertainty. Volunteers, including former diplomats, lawyers and security officials, offered their skills. Funded entirely by donations, the forum built a professional operation while remaining rooted in grassroots activism.
A national and global campaign
As the war in Gaza intensified, the forum divided its efforts between supporting families and maintaining public pressure. Hostages Square became a permanent stage for rallies, art installations, concerts and symbolic actions designed to keep the captives in the public eye.
By early 2024, public opinion in Israel had begun to shift. With many Israelis prioritising military objectives over hostage negotiations, the forum adopted a more strategic approach, focusing on shaping public debate and preparing the ground for any future deal.
Internationally, the group evolved into a formidable lobbying force. Delegations of family members travelled across Europe and North America, meeting officials, lawmakers and media outlets. Observers noted that the forum effectively acted as an unofficial foreign ministry for the families.
Clashes and turning points
Relations with Israel’s government were often tense. Families accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political reasons, while some government supporters openly criticised the movement. Tensions peaked during Netanyahu’s address to the US Congress in July 2024, when forum members were briefly detained for protesting inside the Capitol.
The lowest moment came weeks later, when six hostages, including Carmel Gat, were killed in captivity. The news sparked massive demonstrations across Israel, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in anger and grief.
Shifting momentum
By 2025, international pressure to end the war had grown as civilian casualties in Gaza mounted. Inside Israel, polls showed a clear majority in favour of a deal to bring the hostages home. The forum increasingly focused its efforts on the United States, appealing directly to President Donald Trump and his administration.
That strategy paid off. In January 2025, a US-backed ceasefire deal led to the release of dozens of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Although fighting later resumed, continued pressure eventually contributed to a comprehensive agreement in October 2025 that secured the return of all remaining living hostages and the bodies of most of the dead.
An enduring legacy
Today, Hostages Square is quieter, but its symbols remain: a large “Hope” sign, a piano placed in honour of a freed hostage, and a counter marking the days since 7 October 2023. Volunteers continue to gather each week, determined to stay until Ran Gvili is finally brought home for burial.
For those who lived the campaign, its impact goes beyond the return of loved ones. It demonstrated the power of collective action, the resilience of civil society, and a deeply held national belief that no one should be left behind.
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