Jerusalem turned its streets into a symbol of resilience Friday as thousands of runners raced through the capital’s hills, historic center and southern neighborhoods in one of the city’s biggest public events since the war disruptions.

Former hostage Rom Braslavski, freed from Hamas captivity in October after two years in Gaza, helped kick off the 10-kilometer race alongside Mayor Moshe Lion.

The full 42.2-kilometer marathon was canceled because of the heat wave, and organizers moved the remaining races to earlier start times for safety. Even so, the event still drew roughly 40,000 participants after originally being postponed from late March because of the security situation and Home Front Command restrictions.

For Jerusalem, the race was about more than finish lines. It was a visible return of life to the streets of Israel’s capital, with runners passing landmarks including the Knesset, the city center and parts of the Old City, underscoring the blend of endurance, history and national recovery that defines this marathon every year.