In Tel Aviv, a sea of blue and white flags waved under the morning sun as thousands of Israelis gathered to pray, sing, and cry with relief. After two years of anguish, families finally received word that hostages held in Gaza will begin returning home.
According to AFP, the square long known as “Hostages Square” became a place of spontaneous thanksgiving when news broke that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a cease-fire and exchange deal, part of a 20-point peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
For many, the moment felt almost unreal. “We have been waiting for this day for 734 days,” said Tel Aviv resident Laurence Yitzhak, 54. “It’s a great joy — an immense relief mixed with anxiety, fear, and sorrow for the families who haven’t and won’t get to experience this joy,” she told AFP.
Joy Mixed With Grief
The crowd’s emotions reflected the wounds of a long and painful conflict. Israel says 251 people were kidnapped in Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war; 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 the military believes are dead. The assault killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, while retaliatory strikes in Gaza have claimed more than 67,000 lives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry—figures the United Nations considers credible.
Even amid celebration, many spoke of loss. One man praying during the Jewish festival of Sukkot said, “This is not a happy ending. We have lost many good people. But it was the right thing to do.”
A Moment for Prayer
Catholics around the world have joined in prayer for peace and healing. The Church teaches that every human life is sacred and that reconciliation is an act of divine mercy. Pope Francis repeatedly called for the release of all hostages during his final months, urging both sides to “open the path of dialogue.”
For believers, the images from Tel Aviv evoke a Gospel truth: that hope can bloom even from the darkest suffering. As one attendee, Noam Ekhaus, 36, told AFP, “I woke up in the middle of the night, saw the news, and went straight to Hostages Square… I haven’t been smiling like this in a while… This is what hope feels like.”
Faith Beyond Politics
The formal signing of the truce is expected in Egypt, with the United States and Qatar mediating. Yet for many faithful watching from afar, the deeper victory lies not in political negotiation but in the renewal of compassion.
As Catholics reflect on this moment, we are reminded that peace begins in the human heart. The Psalmist’s words; “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy” (Psalm 126:5)—echo across borders today.
May this long-awaited homecoming open the door to lasting peace, healing, and forgiveness for all God’s children in the Holy Land.
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