Elisha is an 18-year-old Holocaust survivor from Buchenwald who volunteers for a Zionist paramilitary group called the Movement. Orphaned and deeply traumatized by his experiences in the death camps, he struggles with his fractured identity and a fatalistic worldview. His assignment to execute an English hostage at dawn forces him to confront his painful past and his own morality.

Gad is a self-assured, fiery Zionist who recruits Elisha to the Movement after encountering him in Paris. He acts as an emissary for the Movement's elusive leader and uses passionate rhetoric to draw young survivors to the cause. Despite his seemingly resolute exterior, he relies on hollow wartime platitudes to justify the group's violent actions.

Captain John Dawson is a tall, handsome English military officer held hostage by the Movement in retaliation for a captured Jewish fighter. He is in his 40s with a resolute chin and slender hands, remaining dignified and good-natured despite his captivity. He possesses a keen sense of observation and expresses genuine empathy toward his young captor.

David Ben Moshe is a Jewish volunteer fighter for the Movement who is captured and slated for execution by English forces. Though he never physically appears in the narrative, he serves as a powerful symbol of martyrdom for his comrades. Elisha idolizes him as a font of heroism and virtue.

The ghosts are a spectral collection of deceased individuals from Elisha's past, including his parents, his childhood rabbi, and friends lost in the Holocaust. They manifest as silent, judging presences that crowd around Elisha in his final hours before dawn. Their collective presence embodies his grief and his profound sense of social isolation.

Ilana is a resistance member who operates as the primary radio announcer for the Movement. She uses her platform to appeal against the executions, mourning the loss of potential life for both sides. She previously survived a British roundup due to a severe head cold that altered her voice.

Joab is a member of the Movement who serves as one of Ilana's bodyguards. He previously survived a deadly police interrogation by pretending to be catatonic, an act of self-preservation that earned him the nickname "the Madman."

Gideon is a devout fighter in the Movement nicknamed "the Saint." As the son of a rabbi, he relies heavily on his faith, believing that God's watchful eyes gave him the strength to endure torture without betraying his comrades.

The Old Man is the elusive, unnamed leader of the Movement who dictates the group's operations and retaliatory strikes. He remains a distant figure, communicating his strict commands through messengers like Gad.

Young Elisha is the spectral manifestation of Elisha's childhood self, representing the identity he lost during the Holocaust. He acts as a vocal conscience among the otherwise silent ghosts, clarifying their impartial observation.

The Beggar is a mysterious figure from Elisha's youth who taught him to embrace the darkness rather than fear it. He imparted spiritual wisdom about the purity and honesty of the night, leaving a lasting impression on Elisha.

Catherine is a French woman Elisha met at a youth camp in Normandy shortly after the war. She speaks German and shows a morbid fascination with Elisha's traumatic past, treating him with pity that ultimately alienates him.

Stefan is a German sculptor who was incarcerated at Buchenwald for resisting the Nazis. He endured horrific torture by the Gestapo, who severed his fingers, leaving a permanent mark on Elisha's memories of physical vulnerability.