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Parents plead for return of son's body
Itzik and Talik Gvili, parents of Ran Gvili, the final deceased Israeli hostage still held in Gaza, have urged Hamas to release their son's remains as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Speaking to the BBC, they described their anguish after 26 months of uncertainty.
The attack and Ran's sacrifice
Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer, was killed defending Kibbutz Alumim during the Hamas-led assault on 7 October 2023, which left 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed his body was later taken to Gaza.
Despite being on medical leave for a broken shoulder, Ran left home after seeing the attacks unfold on television. "He couldn't stay at home even though he was injured," his father Itzik said. "He took my car and his uniform and went to fight."
"He saved Kibbutz Alumim... and he saved Israel, so Israel has to save him now and bring him back home."
Itzik Gvili, father of Ran Gvili
A fragile hope and relentless pain
Though Israeli officials have confirmed Ran's death, his parents cling to a sliver of hope. "We still have a little percent that maybe he's alive, maybe he's survived," Talik Gvili said. "We want closure."
Their grief has been compounded by the slow, agonizing process of recovering hostages' remains. Under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal that took effect on 10 October, Hamas agreed to return the bodies of 28 deceased hostages within 72 hours. However, the remains have trickled back one at a time, often after weeks of delays.
"When Hamas brings one of the hostages home, we don't know who it is-maybe it's Rani, maybe it's someone else," Talik said. "It's like roulette. You cannot imagine the fright and the hope." She added that some returned remains belonged to Palestinians, deepening their torment.
"My wish is that no mother will feel what I feel in the whole world... They stole my child, and I can do nothing-just pray and beg for help."
Talik Gvili, mother of Ran Gvili
A nation's support and a call for peace
Though Ran's parents are now the only Israelis still awaiting a loved one's return from Gaza, they said public solidarity has grown. "All the families are with us, and all Israeli people are focused on one thing: bring Ran home," Talik said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu honored Ran as a "hero of Israel," crediting him with killing 14 militants before his death. "We are determined to bring Ran back for a proper Jewish burial," Netanyahu vowed.
The Gvilis said they hope for lasting peace and the dismantling of Hamas after Ran's return. "We are very proud of Ran. He's a hero in Israel," Itzik said. "Hamas made him a hero. We want him back so we can sleep and breathe again."
Broader context of the conflict
Israel's military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to the 7 October attacks, has resulted in over 70,120 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
