Remnant Recap
What Happened: Israel’s last remaining hostage in Gaza, Ran “Rani” Gvili, is believed dead, but his body has not been recovered. His mother says the country must not advance to the next phase of the ceasefire plan until he is returned.
Why It Matters: The hostage issue has unified Israelis across political lines, and Rani’s case now stands as the final barrier before major negotiations on Gaza’s future can proceed.
Bottom Line: For the Gvili family — and many Israelis — there can be no closure, or progress, until Rani is brought home.
The mother of the final remaining hostage in Gaza is urging Israel’s leadership to halt all progress on the next phase of the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan until her son, or his remains, are brought home. For Talik Gvili, the country cannot begin healing while 24-year-old police officer Ran “Rani” Gvili remains unreturned.
Rani was one of the 251 Israelis taken captive during Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023, terror attack. Although Israeli authorities believe he was killed shortly after being dragged into Gaza, his family continues to hold onto a sliver of hope. “Without Rani, our country can’t heal,” his mother told Reuters. “We want to feel some tiny doubt… it might just be wishful thinking.”
Posters of Rani line the streets of Meitar, where he lived. He had been home recovering from a broken collarbone when Hamas launched its assault. Despite his injury, he put on his uniform and joined the defense of Kibbutz Alumim. He was badly wounded in the fighting before being taken hostage.
Under the 2025 ceasefire agreement, Hamas committed to releasing all remaining hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian detainees and the return of bodies held by Israel. At the time, 48 hostages remained in Gaza; today, Rani is the last. Both sides accuse the other of violating parts of the deal, and the next phase — involving Gaza’s future governance and reconstruction — is supposed to begin only after all hostages are accounted for.
Talik Gvili insists Israel must not move forward prematurely. “No way. We won’t let that happen,” she said.
Across Israel, the hostage crisis sparked a rare moment of unity. Families and supporters gathered weekly, refusing to allow the country or its leaders to forget those still missing. For the Gvili family, closure remains painfully out of reach.
Photo credit: Tiia Monto
