Ran’s return closes a painful circle

“Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, king of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.” 

There were times when we wondered if it would ever happen. Would they all be returned home? For 843 days, we all hoped, prayed, shook the heavens, and bargained with the Almighty and anyone in power. We were brought to our knees, pleading, and breathed the fire of our relentless fight for our brothers and sisters. 

After 843 days, only one remained – Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili. He was, as his superhero mother, Talik, said, the first one in and the last one out. For 843 days, Talik, Itzik, Shira, and Omer fought for their son and brother, Ran, like the Maccabees themselves. With superhuman strength and a tenacity that is awe inspiring, they persevered with all their might until their beloved son, a hero of Israel, was returned. 

It is almost impossible to describe what we are feeling in Israel. Over the past two years, we have learnt that it is possible to walk alongside our grief, it is possible to carry both resilience and heartbreak, and yesterday, we discovered that our hearts can be both full and broken at the same time. Our hearts are full that our brother, Ran, “the Defender of Alumim” has returned to us, but broken that we are laying him to rest. 

Several days ago, the Israel Defense Forces launched “Operation Brave Heart” to search for the remains of Ran – or Rani as he has become known in Israel – and bring him home. The search took them to a cemetery in northern Gaza, and after searching through 250 graves which they are now in the process of returning to their respectful rest, Ran was found. 

Hiding the bodies of hostages in graves demonstrates another level of Hamas’s depravity. Not content to use their civilian populations as human shields, the terror organisation defiles their dead as well. 

The soldiers of the Alexandroni Brigade were joined by 20 forensic dentists who meticulously searched through the remains until they found Ran. He was identified through his fingerprints, and was found still in the clothes he fought in on 7 October. 

Operation Brave Heart was the most fitting name for the mission to recover this hero of Israel. In a tribute written by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Ran was described as follows: “Staff Sergeant Ran [Rani] Gvili from Meitar was a Yassam Negev fighter in the Southern District of the Israel Police. Ran took great pride in being a police officer and wearing the blue uniform.” 

On the morning of the Black Saturday, Ran was at home recovering from a motorcycle accident, suffering from a fractured shoulder. Upon learning of the terrorist infiltration, he immediately put on his uniform, and went out to assist his fellow unit members in the fighting. On his way, he encountered terrorists and fought with courage and determination on the front line at the entrance to Kibbutz Alumim. Members of the kibbutz community later gave him the name “Ran, the Defender of Alumim”. 

The bravest heart is now home. He will be laid to rest with the dignity he so richly deserves. Kissing his son’s coffin, his father, Itzik, told him, “We are proud of you, my son.” 

Israelis have cried rivers of tears in the past more than two years. We have had days that are more sorrowful than others, and some days that epitomise how we live with ha’dvash v’oketz (the honey and the sting). The return of Rani was exactly that. It closes a painful circle. For the first time since 2014, there are no more hostages in Gaza. For the first time in 844 days, perhaps we can think about a day after 7 October. Israel has fulfilled a sacred vow – we leave no-one behind. 

Ran Gvili is home. Alumim’s defender is home. The bravest heart can now rest in peace. They are all home. May the living hostages start to heal. May Ran’s, and all the deceased hostages’, memories be an eternal blessing. 

• Rolene Marks is a Middle East commentator often heard on radio and TV and is the co-founder of Lay of the Land and the SA-Israel Policy Forum.