The parents of Ran Gvili, the last dead hostage in Gaza, revealed their emotional struggle during an interview with the BBC, expressing a longing for closure as they await the return of their son's body. Itzik and Talik Gvili asserted that peace negotiations cannot proceed until Hamas returns their son. ‘We really hope that all people in the world... want to end this situation and go to the second phase, so Hamas must bring Rani home,’ said Talik.
Ran, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer, was killed while defending Kibbutz Alumim and subsequently taken hostage. His parents shared that he had been on medical leave due to a shoulder injury but returned to aid in the fight against Hamas after witnessing the attack in real-time on television. ‘He couldn’t stay at home even though he was injured,’ Itzik said, emphasizing Ran's dedication to Israel's safety.
Despite confirmation of their son's death, the parents still hold a ‘little percent’ of hope that he might be alive. ‘We want closure,’ Talik stressed, highlighting their continuous campaign for the return of both living and deceased hostages.
Under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to return various hostages, yet the process has been slow, often presenting uncertainty with each release. The Gvilis described the emotional toll this has taken, comparing the wait to a game of ‘roulette’ with feelings of hope mingled with dread at the unpredictability of which remains would come home.
Through their ordeal, they have found solidarity within the Israeli community, stating that ‘all Israeli people are with us’, and they believe that returning their son is necessary for any future peace process. With the hope that Hamas will be dismantled alongside their son’s return, they continue to highlight their pride in Ran as a hero for Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, vowing to ensure Ran's body is returned for a proper Jewish burial amid the broader conflict that has seen significant loss of life in Gaza.
Ran, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer, was killed while defending Kibbutz Alumim and subsequently taken hostage. His parents shared that he had been on medical leave due to a shoulder injury but returned to aid in the fight against Hamas after witnessing the attack in real-time on television. ‘He couldn’t stay at home even though he was injured,’ Itzik said, emphasizing Ran's dedication to Israel's safety.
Despite confirmation of their son's death, the parents still hold a ‘little percent’ of hope that he might be alive. ‘We want closure,’ Talik stressed, highlighting their continuous campaign for the return of both living and deceased hostages.
Under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to return various hostages, yet the process has been slow, often presenting uncertainty with each release. The Gvilis described the emotional toll this has taken, comparing the wait to a game of ‘roulette’ with feelings of hope mingled with dread at the unpredictability of which remains would come home.
Through their ordeal, they have found solidarity within the Israeli community, stating that ‘all Israeli people are with us’, and they believe that returning their son is necessary for any future peace process. With the hope that Hamas will be dismantled alongside their son’s return, they continue to highlight their pride in Ran as a hero for Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, vowing to ensure Ran's body is returned for a proper Jewish burial amid the broader conflict that has seen significant loss of life in Gaza.
