Standing Together for the Hostages and for Humanity

Last Saturday evening, nearly 400,000 Israelis filled Hostages Square in Tel Aviv in what became the largest gathering since the war began – an extraordinary moment charged with anticipation and fragile relief. The large crowd gathered in anticipation for the return of the final group of live hostages, following the historic ceasefire agreement signed by Israel, Hamas, and several Arab states under U.S. auspices. The air was electric with both disbelief and hope, as crowds waved yellow ribbons and sang songs of unity, sensing that a long, dark chapter in Israeli history might finally be closing.​

The ceasefire negotiations—brokered by presidential envoys Jared Kushner and real-estate magnate Steve Witkoff—had captured global attention. Sent by President Trump with full authority to speak to all parties, they managed to secure a deal that combined the release of the remaining 20 live hostages and 28 deceased with a comprehensive truce in Gaza. Addressing the massive crowd that night, both men spoke movingly about faith, humanity, and the extraordinary power of dialogue. “This finish line is about saving lives,” Witkoff told the cheering audience, his words resonating with families who had waited for two agonizing years.​

The speeches intertwined diplomacy and emotion, reflecting the shared exhaustion of two years of war. Kushner spoke of reconciliation and responsibility—of finding courage to rebuild trust in a region shattered by trauma. Their presence and the crowd’s tears symbolized something rare: a night in which Israelis, for the first time in years, truly believed peace might be within reach. The memory of October 7, 2023—when 251 people were kidnapped from their homes, military bases, and the Nova music festival at dawn—was still raw, but in that square, it was momentarily redeemed by collective hope.​

Among the throngs were hundreds from the Amal Educational Network community of students and educators, who came to stand in solidarity with the hostages’ families and to demonstrate Amal’s enduring commitment to social and moral leadership in times of national crisis. With 28,000 teachers and students across Israel, Amal has spent the past two years nurturing empathy, resilience, and civic courage among students. That October night in Tel Aviv reflected the essence of Amal’s mission: to teach that unity and compassion are not only values, they are the lifeblood of a society determined to heal and to bring every one of its people home