Tel Aviv holds gathering after last hostage's remains from Gaza returned

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Tel Aviv holds gathering after last hostage's remains from Gaza returned

2026-01-31 16:08 Last Updated At：02-01 12:32

Crowds congregated at a square in Tel Aviv on Friday for a gathering following the return of the final Israeli hostage's remains from Gaza earlier this week.

"The Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv earned its name as tens of thousands of people gathered at the site every weekend for more than two years, demanding the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Now, for the first time, there is nothing left to demand. This final gathering was instead a moment of gratitude, thanking those who stood there week after week, calling for an end to the crisis.

"I came here many months ago at a very different time when the hostages were still in Gaza and I was hoping and praying that they would be released. Finally they were, and I'm so grateful," said Webdy Doyon, a visitor from Canada.

The remains belonged to Ran Gvili, 24, a member of Israel Police's elite Yasam patrol unit, who was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and whose body was transferred to Gaza.

The return of the final Israeli hostage, followed by the transfer of 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza under the agreement, marked the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire. Attention now turns to phase two.

"It's hopefully now time to move forward and a lot of painful rebuilding still needs to happen. People are still suffering from mental health and other trauma. We need to help them as best we can," said Rich Walter, a visitor from United States.

"I'm not sure about reconciliation, that's going to be a harder thing. That's between governments and world peace and all of that. But I think that idea of being able to breathe and look forward, look ahead and think about what's in the future for Israel," said Jody Comins, a Jewish activist.

Cuban youth hold march to protest U.S. blockade

A youth march themed "Here with Fidel" was held in Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday to call for an end to the U.S. blockade.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, and other party and state leaders participated in the event.

At 08:00, members of Cuba's Union of Young Communists and the Jose Marti Pioneers Organization, along with people from various sectors gathered at the iconic Malecón waterfront promenade in the capital. The participants first delivered speeches and staged artistic performances to express their determination to inherit history, oppose the blockade, and defend the revolutionary cause. Following this, the parade, featuring cyclists and motorcyclists, set off from the José Martí Sports Stadium.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro's birth and April 4 is the anniversary of the founding of the Union of Young Communists in 1962.

One participant said that Cuba does not deserve the unjust treatment it has endured for decades.

"Cuba is a country of peace, a country of love, and it does not deserve this unjust blockade that we are currently facing. The youth at the centenary of Fidel Castro are stepping up to defend and support the revolution. We will not stop because Cuba is a country that resists and lives,” said a participant.

Another participant spoke of the difficult times facing the nation and the essential role of young people.

"We are living through very complex times in our country. Amid all this, young people must play a fundamental role. Here we are; we arrived by bicycle, and some have come on foot. Hopefully, this message reaches the world. I hope that young people from different nations can connect with each other, coming together more and more to strive for a better planet," he said.