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3h ago

Tel Aviv Rally Hails Trump as Countdown to Hostage Returns Under U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire

The first-phase truce links Israeli repositioning and prisoner releases to a Monday deadline for 48 returns, with about 20 thought to be alive.

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Crowds at Hostages Square on Saturday chanted "Trump" and held signs commending the American president's efforts to end the war.
Michel Illouz (left) and Ofir Braslavski, both fathers of hostages, embrace during an interview with local media at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday.
Returned hostage Ofer Kalderon's brother Nissan and sister-in-law Sharon have been demonstrating for the return of all of the hostages since October 7. "We are not going to stop until the last hostage is here," Sharon said.

Overview

  • U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump addressed hundreds of thousands in Hostages’ Square, drawing chants of “Thank you, Trump.”
  • Witkoff and Kushner visited Gaza and the Re’im base to review Israeli compliance with Phase I and received briefings on security, aid and deconfliction.
  • Hamas has 72 hours from Friday noon to return 48 hostages by Monday at 12 p.m. local time, as Israel prepares reciprocal prisoner releases.
  • Families voiced cautious hope and grief, with CNN reporting that some await remains and Netanyahu warning that not all bodies may be recoverable.
  • Trump is expected to visit Israel on Monday after the initial transfers, while disputes over disarmament, withdrawals and governance are deferred to later phases.