Tel Aviv's Hostage Clock to Cease After 844 Days of Counting
A poignant public clock in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, which has tracked the days since the October 2023 Hamas attack, is scheduled to be switched off on Tuesday. This marks the end of its 844-day count, a period during which it served as a rallying point for Israelis demanding the release of those taken captive.
Recovery of Final Hostage Brings Symbolic Closure
The shutdown follows the discovery in Gaza of the body of the last remaining Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili. The 24-year-old off-duty police officer, who was recovering from an injury, was killed while fighting militants during the 2023 attack. His body was announced recovered by the Israeli military on Monday.
Speaking after her son's body was found, his mother Talik expressed profound gratitude to supporters. "We have a closure. Rani returned home an Israeli hero, really, an Israeli hero and we're the most proud of him in the world," she stated, reflecting on the 27 months since the traumatic event.
National Healing and Trump's Peace Plan Progress
In Israel, the return of the last hostage has been anticipated as a significant moment of national healing. The Hamas attack, described as the bloodiest killing of Jews since the Holocaust, represents one of the most traumatic events in the country's history.
This development also completes a core aspect of the initial phase of President Donald Trump's plan to end the war. The second stage, which Washington announced had started earlier this month, includes the reopening of Gaza's Rafah border with Egypt.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Continues
Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza continue to face severe humanitarian challenges. Nour Daher, a 31-year-old with a heart defect, is waiting for the border to reopen to seek medical treatment outside the war-torn territory. "I have the medical referral papers. I registered with the WHO. Now I'm waiting for my name to appear on their lists," he explained, describing near-daily severe palpitations.
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Yehia Rasras watches over his son Ahmed, who was shot earlier this month and remains in critical condition with a bullet lodged in his head. "I wish for my son to receive treatment abroad so that he can recover, receive proper care, and return better than before," the 50-year-old father told Reuters, highlighting the scarcity of even basic medication in Gaza hospitals.
The Gaza health ministry reports that at least 20,000 patients and injured Palestinians require medication outside Gaza, underscoring the ongoing medical emergency.
Ceremony Marks the End of an Era
Since October 7, 2023, thousands of Israelis have gathered almost weekly at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, calling for the release of all captives. On Tuesday, Ran Gvili's sister Shira, along with former hostages and family members, will participate in a public ceremony as the clock is turned off, according to The Hostages and Families Forum.
Gvili was shot while defending Kibbutz Alumim near the Gaza border and was taken to Gaza by militants from Islamic Jihad, which joined the Hamas attack.
Uncertain Path Forward in Gaza
While handing over all remaining hostages was a core commitment of the first phase of the deal, other parts remain unfulfilled. The implementation of the next stage, including Gaza's reconstruction and demilitarization, remains unclear. The Israeli military currently controls 53 percent of Gaza, with Hamas controlling the remainder.
Since Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October as part of the U.S. plan, four Israeli soldiers and over 480 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with both sides repeatedly accusing each other of truce violations. On Tuesday, Israeli forces reportedly killed four Palestinians in northern Gaza, according to Al Ahli Hospital, though an Israeli military spokesperson said they were unaware of any incidents in the area.
