Streets in Tel Aviv go quiet as nation watches hostages go free

The streets of Tel Aviv were eerily calm and fairly deserted in the early hours of the morning as tens of thousands of Israelis gathered at Hostages Square and in front of their screens, watching together the release of the 20 living hostages held captive in Gaza.

Others were glued to their TVs, computers or phones, leaving little trace of the hustle and bustle that would normally characterize the busy streets of Tel Aviv on the eve of the Simchat Torah holiday, a short workday.

In the streets and alleys of the usually buzzing Tel Aviv Carmel food market and the close-by open-air Bezalel clothing market, some stall and shop owners decided to keep their businesses shut or to open late in the morning. Those who opened early were glued to their phones and others had their radios blaring the news.

Around noon, after scenes had been broadcast of all the living Israeli hostages being released by Hamas and transferred to the hands of IDF troops, many shopping sites and half-empty coffee shops in central Tel Aviv started to come back to life.

“After watching our hostages released and freed, we are seeing that people are coming out of their homes to do their shopping and run errands before the start of the Simchat Torah holiday,” says a sales assistant at boutique pastry shop, Gabby’s Goodies, at the Carmel Market. “We will remain open until late this afternoon to serve everyone as needed.”