TEL AVIV, Israel — In a dramatic turn that underscored a nation’s exhaustion and deep political frustration, hundreds of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square Saturday night, directing their gratitude and hope not at their own government, but at U.S. President Donald Trump for brokering the ceasefire deal expected to bring home the remaining hostages from Gaza.
The massive rally—a place of weekly anguish for nearly two years—transformed into a fervent celebration of American intervention. Chants of “Thank You, Trump!” echoed through the crowd, where Israeli flags were conspicuously mixed with the Stars and Stripes.
The outpouring of support comes just two days before Hamas’s deadline on Monday to release the remaining 47 Israeli captives, a central component of the two-phase peace plan spearheaded by the U.S. President. The deal, which includes a phased Israeli withdrawal and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, marks the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the war began two years ago.
The White House Takes Center Stage
The shift in focus was highlighted by the presence of a U.S. delegation on the stage, including President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff was met with roaring cheers when he declared: “To the hostages themselves, our brothers and sisters, you are coming home!” He went on to praise the President in no uncertain terms, calling him “the greatest president the world has ever seen” for refusing to believe peace in the Middle East was out of reach.
The contrast with the sentiment towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was palpable. While the President’s name drew applause, any mention of the Israeli premier drew loud boos and jeers from the weary crowd. Many Israelis, particularly the hostage families, have long held the government responsible for what they see as a prolonged and mismanaged war, placing the personal survival of the ruling coalition ahead of the captives’ safe return.
“We are very thankful to Donald Trump for his support and strength,” said Maia Kampeas, a demonstrator holding a large American flag. “He is the one who finally dragged everyone to the table. We feel a hope we haven’t felt in two years.”
A Breakthrough Forged by Pressure
The rally was a public acknowledgement of what White House officials have privately described: that President Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign on the Israeli leadership was a key factor in forcing the acceptance of the deal’s first phase. For months, previous ceasefire efforts had stalled, facing resistance from right-wing coalition partners who opposed any partial withdrawal or prisoner exchange.
The new agreement, which is expected to be followed by a comprehensive peace summit in Egypt on Monday, sees the U.S. not just as a mediator, but as the principal guarantor of the cessation of hostilities.
As the clock ticks toward Monday’s expected release, the celebration in Tel Aviv is a mixture of profound relief and cautious optimism. The emotional epicenter of the war is awaiting the final act of this initial phase—a return of loved ones that many now credit to the forceful, transactional diplomacy of the American President. For the hostage families, this moment of looming reunion is a triumph of pressure and negotiation, symbolized by the stars and stripes waving over the square.