People gather in Tel Aviv ahead of expected release of more hostages

Relatives and friends of those being held by Hamas in Gaza have been gathering outside the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, in a plaza that is now know as Hostages Square, hours ahead of the expected release of another group of captives.

Here, empty yellow chairs represent the hostages while posters with their faces have been attached to walls, lampposts and railings, next to the omnipresent slogan "Bring them home now".

Sigalit Salminis is waiting for news related to her nephew, 39-year-old Carmel Gat, who was taken from Kibbutz Be’eri, hoping that she could be included in the groups of people to be freed as part of the truce between Israel and Hamas.

“I’m optimistic because this is the start of [the process] for our people to come home. We’re also worried because people are still in Hamas’s hands but we want to think this is the beginning of the end,” she told me.

“We want everyone to come back. We’re all one big family now. They’re people who were taken from their homes. They’re innocent people.”

She also said the hoped the Red Cross, which has helped in the transfer of hostages, would be given access to those who remained in captivity.

Tonight, a rally will be organised to mark 50 days since they were abducted, which is on Sunday, and organisers expect 50,000 people from across the country to attend.