Israelis end hostage countdown after remains are returned

TEL AVIV

A solemn ceremony in Tel Aviv marked the end of a 843-day countdown since Hamas kidnapped 251 Israelis on October 7, 2023. The stopwatch in “Hostages Square” was retired after the body of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, was recovered, allowing for a new phase in the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. While the square’s future name remains uncertain, the event signified a collective sigh of relief for many Israelis, though concerns about Gaza’s dire conditions persist.

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