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.
Armenia’s National Assembly election on 7 June is increasingly being viewed not only as a domestic political contest, but also as a vote that could ...
An ageing, poorly insured shadow armada now accounts for around one-sixth of the world's tanker fleet. Hidden by design and fraught with risk, it oper...
The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), the ambitious multimodal transit corridor designed to connect mainland Azerbaijan with...
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they l...
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire ...
Armenia’s National Assembly election on 7 June is increasingly being viewed not only as a domestic political contest, but also as a vote that could shape the future direction of the South Caucasus.
An ageing, poorly insured shadow armada now accounts for around one-sixth of the world's tanker fleet. Hidden by design and fraught with risk, it operates beyond conventional oversight. A maritime law expert explains how it works, who profits, and why much of the world looks the other way.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire proposal and Israel has ruled out a troop withdrawal.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that its Aerospace Force did not strike the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal on Wednesday, and that the destruction was instead caused by a failed U.S. Patriot missile.
Five Azerbaijani citizens have been killed and three others injured following drone attacks on two cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations against Iran, describing the report as entirely baseless and demanding a retraction.
As Armenia heads toward parliamentary elections on 7 June, the country's relationship with Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the defining issues of the campaign, with analysts and international observers highlighting the role of regional politics in shaping voters’ mindsets.
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, a vote that will shape the country’s political direction for the next five years. Understanding how the electoral system converts votes into parliamentary power is key to following the outcome and its wider regional implications.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with around 600 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
Azerbaijan is once again at the centre of global climate diplomacy, hosting World Environment Day 2026 and bringing together international leaders, policymakers and organisations to address urgent environmental challenges.
The Eighth Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly has concluded in Samarkand, bringing together representatives from 186 countries to set environmental priorities and approve new funding for climate, biodiversity and sustainable development initiatives.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned ahead of World Environment Day that Afghanistan's worsening water crisis is disproportionately affecting women and girls, who bear much of the responsibility for securing water for their families.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment