How hostage families shaped global pressure on Israel
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 mobilisationThe 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 […]
