Remains of final hostage Ran Gvili back in Israel after being located in Gaza

JTA – The remains of the final Israeli hostage in Gaza, Ran Gvili, have been retrieved and returned to Israel for burial. 

The announcement by the Israeli military marks a significant milestone for the Israeli public, which transformed into a communal vigil for the hostages taken when Hamas attacked on 7 October 2023. It also removes an obstacle to the second phase of the United States-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. 

Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer, was killed defending Kibbutz Alumim on 7 October. His remains were recovered from a cemetery in Gaza City during a major military operation, the Israel Defense Forces said. Hundreds of bodies were reportedly exhumed during the search and are being reburied. 

“The return of Ran for burial is a painful moment of closing the circle with the return of the last hostage from the Gaza Strip territory to the soil of Israel,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz in a post on X. “This is a moment that underscores the state of Israel’s commitment to its fighters and citizens: to bring every single one home, as we promised the families and the public in Israel. This is mutual responsibility.” 

Four of the hostages released under the ceasefire deal had been held since before 7 October, meaning that Gvili’s return marks the first time since 2014 that there will be no Israeli hostages in Gaza. 

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire had commenced despite opposition from Gvili’s family who said his body should be returned first. 

Since then, the Trump administration has announced the formation of an international “Board of Peace” to oversee the ceasefire and presented plans for the reconstruction of Gaza. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that it would reopen the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt after the search for Gvili’s remains was completed. 

Gvili’s mother, Talik, said the news of his return is “a relief, after these two and a half years, even though we hoped for a different ending”, according to The Times of Israel. 

The discovery of Gvili’s remains was also celebrated by Israeli soldiers at the cemetery where he was found. Video of the soldiers posted on X showed many embracing and singing Ani Ma’amin, a Hebrew song meaning “I believe”. 

Some Jews and Jewish institutions removed their hostage necklaces and dismantled their displays in support of the hostages after all of the remaining living hostages were released in October. Others posted social media videos of themselves doing so on Monday following the news of Gvili’s return. 

Speaking to the media in the Knesset on Monday, Netanyahu said, “We promised, and I promised, to bring everyone back, and we brought everyone back. Rani is a hero of Israel. He went in first, he came out last. He came back.”