Hostage Square Clock Stops After 844 Days of Vigil (Full Transcript)
[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Just think of how many times I've come to you live from right here in Hostage Square at the scene of demonstrations and of people, you know, raising their voices to try and secure the release of the hundreds of Israeli hostages who were taken captive on October 7th, 2023. Now it was 843 days later, just yesterday, that the final hostage finally came home. The remains of Ran Kveli, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer, were finally returned after extensive search efforts inside of the Gaza Strip. And now today, on that 844th day, some Israelis have gathered here to see as the clock behind me is finally going to be turned off. And finally now, a moment of closure not only for Ran Kveli's family, but also for so many Israelis here, as this country now closes the page on one of the darkest chapters in its history. And you can see the clock has now stopped at a fixed point. It hasn't gone off yet completely. This clock has stopped ticking 844 days after October 7th.
- The final hostage from the October 7, 2023 captivity was returned after 843 days.
- The returned individual is described as Ran Kveli, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer, whose remains were recovered from Gaza.
- Hostage Square has been a focal point for demonstrations demanding hostage releases.
- A symbolic clock tracking days since October 7 was stopped on day 844, signifying closure for many Israelis.
- The event is framed as ending one of Israel’s darkest recent chapters.