'Hostages Square' becomes official name for Tel Aviv protest epicenter

The central square in Tel Aviv, which served as the epicenter for demonstrations demanding the return of hostages held by Hamas for two years, has been officially renamed "Hostages Square." The city officially dedicated the area in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art on Wednesday, a location where Israelis, including victims' families, gathered weekly following the October 7, 2023 attacks.

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History cannot be erased, and we must not allow it to be forgotten.

Mayor Ron Huldai stated during the inauguration, "History cannot be erased, and we must not allow it to be forgotten." He added, "This square will continue to be a testament to the families, to their struggle, and to the commitment to never give up on anyone." Attendees at the ceremony highlighted the significance of remembering the movement that emerged from the trauma of the October 7th attack, Israel's deadliest.

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This square will continue to be a testament to the families, to their struggle, and to the commitment to never give up on anyone.

"We have to remember the grace or the light that this tragedy brought into our lives," said Anushka Auerstock, 38. Idan Levi, 23, noted that even after the war concludes, "we will still not forget what happened on October 7th, what happened afterwards, the hell we lived through here." During the two-year conflict in the Gaza Strip, protesters in this square consistently pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a deal with Hamas for the release of hostages.

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We have to remember the grace or the light that this tragedy brought into our lives.

An agreement was finally reached in October 2025, leading to the return of the remaining captives, both living and deceased. The Hamas-led attack in 2023 resulted in 1,221 deaths, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures. Militants abducted 251 hostages to Gaza, 44 of whom were already dead, including many attending a music festival. A total of 168 hostages were returned alive. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza caused at least 73,388 deaths, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in the territory, figures considered reliable by the UN.

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we will still not forget what happened on October 7th, what happened afterwards, the hell we lived through here.