Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, is full of people celebrating as Israeli captives are set to be be released by Hamas as soon as Sunday
Downtown Tel Aviv erupted into spontaneous cheers and dancing on Thursday as Israelis celebrated phase one of the Gaza peace plan being agreed.
Friends of the 48 remaining hostages, loved ones and relatives of those who have lost their lives flocked to iconic Hostages Square to mark the historic day.
It marked two years and two days since the dreadful October 7 2023 Hamas attacks on southern Israel started a war that killed tens of thousands. The initial Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad killing spree murdered 1,200 in southern Israeli kibbutzim, in towns and in the Nova Festival.
What followed was two years of fighting within Gaza as Israeli troops hunted down terror fighters, killing more than 67,000 – with many more lying under rubble.
Today, the Israeli Government meets to finalise plans for a ceasefire, followed by arrangements for a hostage and prisoner swap. If a ceasefire time is settled it will happen in the next 72 hours and the hostages will begin to be handed over shortly after the guns fall silent.
READ MORE: Gaza LIVE: Israel-Hamas ceasefire time pushed back as death toll risesREAD MORE: Haunting Gaza before-and-after photos show harrowing devastation as babies starve
It means the hostages could be released as soon as Sunday, closely followed by the beginning or the releases of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. But it is believed the final hours before the ceasefire, as has happened in all of the recent Hamas – Israel wars, the cross border violence may escalate.
Even as this side of the bloodied frontier celebrated the hoped for end to war and release of the 48 remaining hostages at least ten Palestinians died in the past 24 hours.
The bombs were still raining down on Gaza but tragically in this region the addition to the Palestinian toll marked a slowing down in tempo of battle.
In Hostages Square people were dancing to music and cheering out of happiness and celebration, but some of those whose relatives were kidnapped and murdered were quiet.
This iconic area of Tel Aviv has for two years has been stamped with the words “Bring them Home” in a plaintive appeal to the government to save Israel’s brother and sisters.
The mood of this quarter of Israel’s economic and military hub is now “They’re coming home,” and the war that has seen Israel accused of ‘genocide’ is grinding to a halt.
Fifty miles south of where these scenes of jubilation were playing out, in the early hours Gazans, according to witnesses, wept and hugged in open joy at the suggestion of an end to war.
Celebratory gunfire erupted as AK47’s were used as party poppers to fire into the air and mark what even Hamas fighters hope is an end to two years of bitter bloodshed.
Palestinian children at Nuseirat Camp waved flags in celebration. But here in Hostages Square Rotem Cooper, 59, son of kidnapped and slain 84 year-old Amiram Cooper, believes politicians such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could have done more to save those taken captive by Hamas.
He believes strongly that Netanyahu needlessly pressed on with the military push in Gaza when negotiations for hostages releases hit a glitch, leading to his father dying.
He says his father died needlessly in captivity and was confirmed dead last year, whilst his mother, who was also kidnapped had been released.
Rotem’s mother, Nurit, was also taken captive but was released weeks after the attack in a humanitarian gesture. Amiram Cooper was one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz.
His father remained in captivity and was announced dead last year. Standing in Hostages Square Rotem said: “No politician should get points for bringing my father back in a bag.”
Israel fears a number of the slain hostages’ bodies may not be found or returned. Rotem is currently focusing on supporting the living hostages to be released, including those from Nir Oz.
He says: “My only preparations are to cancel everything on my calendar and to be here for the families, first of all for the living hostages,” he says. “First thing, let’s receive them.”
If the terror group does not return his father’s body, he says, “It’s too horrible to think about.” It is feared any number between seven and fifteen hostage bodies may never be found, perhaps disappeared forever in the rubble and dust of now ruined Gaza Strip.
As well as the celebration dancing and singing pockets of sadness and bitterness exist in Hostages Square.
Lee Zedik , 49, from Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, said as she danced in the square: “It’s for all of our brothers and sisters.
“We are celebrating that we believe will be their return to Israel after unimaginable suffering. We have wanted them back for so long and we are happy.
“That is why there is so much singing and dancing. We are singing out of joy and happiness, out of the sense of community that there may be peace at last here and we can build up our lives again.
“That is why everyone is so happy. I know it is early days but this is what happiness looks like and an end to the war.”
Beaming soldier’s wife Merav, 39, also from Ramat Gan, said: “I am so happy, along with everybody else, that this looks like the war is over and that our people will be returned to us. I am married to a soldier. My husband has 100 soldiers under him, all serving in Gaza and I worry for him and for all of those serving under him.
“This day marks a time when I will hopefully no longer have to worry about what will happen to him and whether he is safe or if he is in danger. This has been a terrible two years of worry and stress but that is nothing compared to what the hostages and their loved ones have been through.
“We have prayed for this day and it has finally come. Everybody is so pleased the worry is probably all over and the wear has come finally to an end.”
Merav’s husband is currently on leave at home and looking after their three children.