Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage whose body is believed to be held in Gaza.
Gvili, 24, who was killed in Kibbutz Alumim during Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, was one of roughly 250 hostages taken into Gaza.
Speaking at the rally, his father, Itzik Gvili, said: "It’s hard for me to accept condolences. Until I see his body, I don’t speak about him in the past tense."
Gvili also addressed police officers attending the gathering, praising their actions during the 7 October attack, and recalled how his son was woken early that morning after Hamas launched its assault on southern Israel.
Family members lit candles and sang prayers.
His mother, Talik Gvili, has said Israel will not fully heal as a society until her son is brought home, reflecting the broader emotional toll of the hostage issue on the country.
Several former hostages attended the rally, including Eitan Horn and Yocheved Lifschitz, who were reportedly abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, as well as Dani Miran, the father of released hostage Omri Miran.
Organisers said additional solidarity rallies will be held on Saturday evening in Meitar, the Gvili family’s hometown, as well as in Shaar Hanegev in southern Israel and in Carmei Gat.
The rally, along with many others, underscores continued public pressure on the government to secure the return of all captives.
Israeli officials have said they have shared information with international mediators aimed at helping locate Gvili’s remains, making his case a key issue in ongoing ceasefire and hostage-related negotiations with Hamas.
An Israeli negotiator has said militant groups face practical difficulties locating his body amid widespread destruction in Gaza.
The handover of Gvili’s remains would complete a key condition in the initial phase of U.S.-backed efforts aimed at ending the Gaza war.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he would have a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday to discuss peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia as well as issues surrounding Gaza.
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Russian athletes will not be allowed to represent their country at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics even if a peace deal is reached with Ukraine, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
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The Washington Accords, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, have reshaped the strategic balance in the South Caucasus and strengthened America’s position. According to The Washington Times, the shift reflects a broader realignment driven by security, transport corridors.
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