Thousands gather for unity rally at Hostages Square, as deal appears near

On Tuesday evening, as on many previous Tuesday nights, thousands gather for a unity rally of prayer and song held in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, with some of the country’s best-known performers, as well as several hostage family members, including the father of hostage Yarden Bibas, and former hostage Moran Stella Yanai, who was freed during the November 2024 pause in fighting.

The aunt of murdered hostage Omer Neutra calls to the audience to recite the prayer “Shema Yisrael” together, with a resounding “Amen” at the end. She sends strength to the hostage negotiators, with the hope that they will bring home all the remaining hostages.

As Aviv Geffen and Omer Adam perform, Geffen says, “Omer and I are here tonight to say there are no differences between us, no religious and no secular Israelis, no Ashkenazi and Mizrachi, there is just the nation of Israel, the Jewish nation, praying that the hostages come home,” says Geffen. “That is our prayer.”