Today’s Tel Aviv Diary captures a rare mood: joy. In the wake of the ceasefire announcement between Israel and Hamas, the city is still buzzing—cafés full, streets alive, and Hostage Square overflowing with songs, flags, and relief. I walk you through the moment Israelis let themselves say “good morning” and mean it, as the 72-hour clock begins for the return of all 20 living hostages and efforts start to locate the fallen. We look at what’s next: the IDF’s withdrawal to stage-two positions, expanded humanitarian access, President Trump’s expected visit and Knesset address, and the hard questions ahead about Gaza’s future. It’s a hopeful episode—honest about the grief that remains, clear-eyed about the politics and logistics still to come—but grounded in a simple truth: after 735 days of war, Israelis finally allowed themselves to breathe.
