Spontaneous celebrations

TEL AVIV—A celebration erupted in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv Thursday morning as hundreds gathered to celebrate a signed ceasefire deal between Israel and the terror group Hamas. Participants sang, beat drums, and danced in the plaza outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

“We woke up today to the news that President Donald J. Trump helped with the deal of all of the hostages coming back home,” said Tel Aviv resident Helly Sharvit as she took part in the celebration. “All of the hostages, not just [a] few.”

Another participant, Tamara Kolitz had been to the square on Tuesday with her children to remember the second anniversary of the attacks. Thursday morning felt very different.

“This is a very—I can’t say happy day—but a day of hope,” she said. “After being here so many times, even two days ago with my kids and feeling the deep sadness and hopelessness, today is a day of hope. And I wanted to be with the people.”

Hostages Square got its name shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks by Hamas that left 1,200 dead and more than 250 taken hostage. Since the attacks, it has become an informal gathering place for families of hostages and their supporters. Over two years, nearly 150 hostages have been returned alive, and the bodies of nearly 60 have been recovered. Hamas still holds 48, more than half of them feared dead.

But on Wednesday evening, President Trump announced a success brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The deal, signed by both Israel and Hamas on Thursday, according to Reuters, mandates the return of all hostages held by Hamas. That promises the end of a long ordeal for Israelis who have awaited the return of their loved ones and fellow countrymen, whether dead or alive.

“Our whole life is split between before Oct. 7 and after Oct. 7,” said Mor Rubinstein, who celebrated in the plaza and described herself as overwhelmed and happy. “We cannot return to our life and continue with our little goals and little things until they’re back. And now we can finally rebuild our beautiful country and start to breathe again.”

“It’s been awful”

The Oct. 7 attacks not only resulted in bloodshed and kickstarted a war, but also brought division among the Israeli people.

“I feel like in the last few years, Israelis have been really separated because of lefties and righties, and events like [today’s] makes us feel whole again and want to hug each other,” said Sharvit. “No matter what your opinion about the government, we just want to be happy.”

Elad Barber, who lives in Tel Aviv, compared Thursday to a new independence day for Israel.

“Of course, we’ve got to see [the hostages] back first, but for the first time in two years, I think we are able to take a deep breath and have a sense of optimism,” he said. “Because we haven’t been well for two years. It’s been awful.”

He added: “There’s a lot of healing that needs to be done among Israelis.” He hoped the return of the hostages would be a turning point.

Among those drawn to Hostages Square on Thursday was Efrat Rayten, a member of the Knesset who represents Israel’s Democrats party. She said the celebration harks back to Israel’s founding as a country.

“The last time that we saw or heard about people going out into the streets and dancing and singing, I think it was in 1948,” she said. “Because this is the real joy—a real joy to have our family and to have the hostages back home. That’s what we prayed and wished and fought for the last two years.”

“You can hear it for yourself,” she said amid the sounds of singing and chanting. “The joy is something to remember. This is really an historic day.”

Many of the participants, Rayten included, credited Trump for the ceasefire agreement. Chuck Maurer, a U.K. resident who stopped by the square on Thursday morning while visiting family, also praised Trump for his involvement.

“We were just praying [that] Donald Trump would get us out of this mess,” he said. “And he has, God bless him.”

A brighter future

As celebrants danced, sang, and handed out glasses of champagne, many participants said the agreement signaled a brighter future for Israel, though some expressed uncertainty as to whether Hamas would live up to its end of the bargain.

“We know what we’re dealing with,” said Sharvit, the Tel Aviv resident. “Hamas has let us down before and we want to make sure that everything is going smoothly and everything will be fine.”

But while some were cautiously optimistic, others said the next few days would focus on rejoicing and celebration.

“You see people are coming since early in the morning … to the streets and to this square in the middle of Tel Aviv,” said Rayten. “You will see that [happening] all day, and the next days until all of them—all the hostages—will be in Israel. At home at last.”

—Read more from Travis K. Kircher’s reporting trip to Israel here.