Passover in Hostages Square Highlights Unbreakable Israeli Solidarity

On the first night of Passover, families of Israelis held captive by Hamas brought their grief, hope, and unwavering determination to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, transforming the plaza into a national Seder table.

With 59 hostages still held in Gaza over 20 of whom are believed to be alive hundreds gathered in the square outside the Tel Aviv Museum for a public Passover meal led by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The event served as both a traditional commemoration of the Jewish journey from slavery to freedom and a powerful national cry for the return of the captives.

“How can we sit at the Seder table and tell the story of our journey from slavery to freedom while 59 of our brothers and sisters are still held captive by Hamas?” the Forum asked in a public invitation. “Bring your holiday meal with you, bring a mat or chair, come with the kids, come with friends let’s be together.”

The gathering came as negotiations to free the remaining hostages remain stalled, with little progress reported in recent weeks.

Among those addressing the crowd was Karina Ariev, an IDF spotter who was released in January during the initial hostage exchange. “Although I am here, my heart is still there,” she said, urging all Israelis to “leave an empty chair for the hostages, and do not forget them.”

“There are still 59 hostages waiting for their freedom holiday, waiting to be brought home,” she added. “Until they return, none of us can truly be free.”

This Seder, in the heart of Tel Aviv, was not just a religious observance it was a national act of solidarity. It reminded Israel and the world that the fate of each hostage is deeply personal and painfully present for every Israeli.

Even during a holiday celebrating deliverance and freedom, the people of Israel remain bound together by their unwavering commitment to one another. And in Hostages Square, that commitment was on full display.

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