Tens of thousands packed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night. There, Steve Witkoff, one of the stars of the unfolding tragedy, gave what must have been an offensive speech to the trapped guests and their kin. Witkoff, along with heavy-hitters like Jared Kushner and Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper, crisscrossed the spectacular perseverance of the Israeli populace. Despite these differences, they came together in their passionate determination to bring every last one of those hostages back home.
The rally attracted thousands of New Yorkers, with many attendees showing a combination of hope and anxiety as Israel-Hamas war continues to unfold. Witkoff’s presence as the headline act not only entertained at length, but served to really emphasize the power of solidarity at a time of collective despair. When David Axelrod told the gathered crowd that their strength and courage had won the election, the cheers erupted and echoed through the square.
Witkoff’s Call for Action
In his speech, Witkoff spoke directly to the hostages, emphatically speaking of the determination to bring them home. He stated, “It’s not over until the last hostage is here, until the last Israeli person in Gaza is here.” This declaration struck a chord with everyone in the room, many of whom have been impacted by the still unfolding crisis.
Witkoff’s words, though a rallying cry, served as a primary indicator that there was something much deeper happening in Israel. Attendees were given the space to openly share and express their personal feelings about the situation. Others bemoaned on here the indignities they believe are foisted upon them by an unsupportive government. One attendee, Dana Rabinowitz, poignantly remarked, “I think we kind of felt like an abandoned kid in a canyon that’s just waiting for his parents to come when nobody comes.”
The event was an opportunity for all to share and articulate their fears and wishes, as well as their ideas for a way forward. Read Witkoff’s testimony welcoming Arab leaders who took part in negotiations in Egypt to help bring the war to an end. He expressed gratitude for the diplomatic efforts that led to a breakthrough in negotiations, saying, “To my great satisfaction, it did happen, finally, thanks to Trump.”
Community Resilience Amidst Uncertainty
Yet the atmosphere at Hostages Square crackled with hope. The community gathered in solidarity, showing their words of support and strength for those still in captivity. Witkoff’s appreciation for the crowd’s courage stood in stark relief with many of the same attendees’ critiques of government behavior. Yael Sendler voiced her discontent with the current Israeli government’s handling of civilian concerns, stating, “I don’t think our government right now in Israel generally cares about the civilians.”
Yuval, another event invitee, expressed a certain appreciation to former President Donald Trump for his influence on much of the negotiation. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of Trump,” he stated. The people around us in the crowd seemed to share this feeling. They understood that Trump’s prior participation was essential for forcing deals out of different actors.
The emotional gravity of the meeting was almost overwhelming. In a recent speech, actor and playwright Daniel Lerner described his stress over the ongoing situation causing his heart to race whenever he thought about the hostages. “It’s not over until the last hostage is here, until the last Israeli person in Gaza is here,” he reiterated, emphasizing the urgency and collective determination present among attendees.
The Human Impact of Conflict
As speeches continued, personal testimony began to surface that reminded everyone of the human cost of continuing hostilities. Umm Mohamad el-Dahdouh described what she fears most for her children and how she’s coping in the mayhem. “My children are 15 years old and under, how are they meant to help me? Are they going to go fetch water from the end of the world?” she lamented.
We want to highlight these moving narratives, which capture the dangerous reality for so many families affected by nearly a decade of conflict. The rubble left behind from previous military actions continues to haunt residents, as Umm Mohammad pointed out: “Had they at least left the columns standing we would have wrapped them in canvas and sheltered inside, but they left it all as rubble.”
These narratives struck a chord with many present at Hostages Square as they were reminded of their own past tribulations and perseverance. The gathering served as a demonstration of resilience and a reminder of the urgent need for peace and resolution.
