Tel Aviv, Israel - Nov 27, 2023 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of people singing
2. Various of people holding signs, urging Israeli government to bring hostages home
3. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Danny Miran, family member of hostage:
"You can either be sad or angry that they are not all back. But you can be happy for those who have received their children. I decided to be the latter and trust that the government will bring my son back soon."
4. Various of ceremony to pray for hostages, chairs, tables
5. People holding photo of hostage
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Orly Salem, family member of hostage (starting with shot 5):
"I don’t want to fight. We don't want to fight. We just want to bring them back. So I hope that they will do it now, after we heard this news."
7. Various of people gathering, holding signs
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Manuela Rotstein, friend of hostage's families:
"It's not enough. And we need to carry on this process until all of them, all the hostages are back here. This is the basic commitment of the government with its people, isn't it? To care for their safety, to care for their lives. So that's what we are asking."
9. People hugging
10. People taking photo of signboard

Family members and friends of the Israelis still being held hostage by Hamas gathered in Tel Aviv on Monday, calling on the government to further extend the temporary truce and bring their loved ones back safely.

A four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Friday and was later extended by two additional days, raising hopes that more of the around 200 hostages who were taken to Gaza by Hamas militants during their Oct. 7 surprise attack could yet be released.

A crowd including the families of hostages, volunteers, and activists began to assemble early on Monday afternoon in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, many holding aloft signs and photos of the victims, with the hope that more of them will soon be freed.

After a promising few days amid the temporary truce, relief at the news of a further 11 hostages being released later on Monday brought some encouragement alongside the lingering anxiety for those who remain captive.

"You can either be sad or angry that they are not all back. But you can be happy for those who have received their children. I decided to be the latter and trust that the government will bring my son back soon," said Danny Miran, the family member of a hostage.

Despite a nerve-wracking delay in the release, the two-day extension of the truce has rekindled hope for those who are still waiting for the return of their loved ones.

"I don't want to fight. We don't want to fight. We just want to bring them back. So I hope that they will do it now, after we heard this news," said Orly Salem, another family member.

While some optimism is evident, many are demanding greater proactivity and accountability regarding the deal to secure the hostages' return.

"It's not enough. And we need to carry on this process until all of them, all the hostages are back here. This is the basic commitment of the government with its people, isn't it? To care for their safety, to care for their lives. So that's what we are asking," said Manuela Rotstein, the friend of a hostage.