Hostages Square, Tel Aviv

Plan Your Visit

• Location: In front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 27 Shaul HaMelech Street, Tel Aviv
• Open Times: 24 hours
• Prices: Free
• Average Visit Duration: 1-2 hours
• Special Events: There are regular events at this Square, including Friday evening ‘Kiddush’ (blessings to welcome in the Sabbath), ‘Singing for Their Return’ each Tuesday and regular lectures by friends and relatives of those being held captive. Visitors are welcome to step inside the tent and talk to locals there, to hear their personal stories, offer words of comfort and gain a deeper appreciation of the situation.
• Relevant Tours: To learn more about the events of October 7th, we recommend taking a one of the Gaza Strip Envelope Tours. And for anyone who wants to enjoy the many attractions of this fantastic Mediterranean city, there are a number of day tours in Tel Aviv to suit every taste - from street art to local food tastings, cycle trips and walking tours in the nearby magical city of Jaffa,

Before 7th October 2023 a public square in front of one of Israel’s best-known museums but now the unofficial headquarters for the campaign to release all captives(#bringthemhomenow) visiting Hostages Square is both moving and humbling and essential for anyone who wants to learn more about this devastating chapter of Israeli history.

The first thing that tends to catch the eye of visitors is the ‘Shabbat table’ installation.  Shabbat (which arrives each Friday night in Israel) is a central focus of many Jews, and this large, empty table - set for a festive meal - with empty seats (each one with a picture of a hostage on a chair) is incredibly poignant.  Indeed, for many it really brings home the enormity of the situation and many Israeli families are missing a loved one.

Hostages Square also holds a mock-up of a Gaza tunnel, since many of the captives are currently being held below ground, without sufficient air and light.  You can walk through this claustrophobic 25-metre space, whilst listening to recordings of gunfire and bombs dropping, and as a simulation it really brings home the plight of those being held up to 40 metres below ground.  

New artwork is appearing constantly, including pieces featuring traditional yellow ribbons and essays on individual hostages, giving you the chance to put a name to a face and a story.  There’s also an opportunity to buy merchandise from volunteers - from t-shirts and flags to yellow pins and silver dog tags, all monies raised go to the campaign.  

Whilst many might think that a visit to such a space is too depressing, many who make the journey here leave humbled and with a whole new level of appreciation for basic things (including our very freedom)  we take for granted.  A visit to Hostages Square is a must for anyone travelling to Tel Aviv, since not only will you learn more about the events of this tragic day, but come away with a deep understanding of how energetic, lively and indomitable the Israeli spirit is.