A clock in a Tel Aviv square that became a rallying point for Israelis demanding the release of hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack was turned off on Tuesday, 844 days after it began counting their captivity.
The shutdown follows the discovery in Gaza of the body of the last remaining hostage, which was announced by the Israeli military on Monday.
Ran Gvili, 24, was an off-duty police officer recovering from an injury, who was killed fighting militants that infiltrated Israel during the 2023 attack.
Gvili's mother, Talik, speaking to reporters late on Monday, after her son's body was recovered, thanked those who had supported the family during the 27 months since the 2023 attack.
"We have closure. Rani returned home an Israeli hero, really, an Israeli hero and we're the most proud of him in the world," she said.
In Israel, the return of the last hostage had been anticipated as a moment of national healing.
It also completes a core aspect of the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war. The second stage, which Washington announced had started earlier this month, includes the reopening of Gaza's Rafah border with Egypt.
Nour Daher, a 31-year-old Palestinian in Gaza, said that he was waiting for the border to reopen so he could seek medical treatment for a heart defect outside of the war-torn territory.
"I have the medical referral papers. I registered with the WHO (World Health Organization). Now I’m waiting for my name to appear on their lists,” he said.
"I am hopeful my problem will finally end," said Daher, describing near-daily bouts of severe palpitations.
Families to gather for Tel Aviv ceremony
Ran Gvili’s sister, Shira, along with former hostages and family members, took part in a public ceremony in Tel Aviv as the clock was turned off, the Hostages and Families Forum said.
Gvili was shot while defending Kibbutz Alumim, a community in Israel's south near the border with Gaza. His body was taken to Gaza by militants from Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian militant group that joined the Hamas attack, according to Israeli officials.
Handing over all the remaining living and dead hostages was a core commitment of the first phase of the deal, though other parts have not been fulfilled.
It is not clear how the next stage will be implemented, which includes the reconstruction and demilitarisation of Gaza. The Israeli military remains in control of 53% of Gaza, with Hamas in control of the rest.
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