Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, November 25, 2023
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Amid agonizing delay, friends and families of hostages stage rally in Tel Aviv
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Israelis attend a rally calling for the release of Israelis held hostage in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, November 25, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
Some 50,000 Israelis gather in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, behind the Defense Ministry, to mark “50 Days of Hell.”
“Returning hostages is the biggest mitzvah there is,” says singer Ehud Banai from the stage. “With Hanukkah coming, we’ll light many candles during this dark time. Our hearts are broken until we see all of them home.”
The crowd is full of people of all ages, including youth groups in the khaki and blue colors of Hashomer Hatzair, as well as people in black “Bring Them Home” T-shirts and dog tags with names of hostages.
