Recovering the last hostage in Gaza

I didn’t expect to be so overcome with so many emotions upon hearing the news of the identification and repatriation of the remains of the last Israeli hostage kidnapped by Hamas in Gaza, Ran Gvili.  In the past several weeks since the second to last hostage was found and returned, a Thai citizen, Ran’s fate and heroism were discussed daily across Israeli media.  I feel like I knew him. Perhaps it was fitting that he was the last hostage to be rescued. 

Ran Gvili was a 24-year-old police officer, on leave when the Hamas attack and massacre began on October 7, 2023. Ran was recovering from a broken shoulder, but put on his uniform and took his weapon and went out to engage the terrorists who had infiltrated Israel. He ran into the fire, like a true hero not just a bystander, saving many. Unfortunately, he was mortally wounded and Hamas kidnapped his body into Gaza. 

It’s said he was the first to go in, and the last to come home. 

I didn’t understand the range of emotions yesterday, first as I heard the news from a friend, Ann Marie, in a Zoom meeting, and then in making a video myself, removing the yellow bracelet that I had worn in solidarity every day for more that two years. 

I was overcome with joy, that the recovery of the hostages is now a closed chapter in recent Israeli history. I was overcome with grief that even though we knew he was dead, that he was dead. I was overcome because it is now a closed chapter, and Israel has achieved the goal of releasing all the 251 hostages. But it’s also overwhelming knowing that the war is not over, far from it, and that my youngest grandchildren who played with the bright yellow bracelet on my wrist will still have to fight this fight because the objective of eviscerating Hamas is not even close to being done. 

Barring a miracle, my grandsons who played with the rubber bracelet not knowing what it represented will end up having to fight the terrorists whose worship to their god of hate and death knows no bounds and transcends their generations. 

Ran’s remains were reportedly found intact, buried in a Moslem cemetery in northern Gaza, in his uniform. Uncovering his body also uncovered the lie that Hamas didn’t know where he was, and their inhuman cruelty. 

An extensive military operation was launched with hundreds or more soldiers involved, as well as military rabbis, and a team of dentists to identify his remains. His body was draped in an Israeli flag, and soldiers cried as they sang a song affirming their faith, affirming our faith, and the Israeli anthem while saluting the fallen hero.  His body was escorted by a convoy of police vehicles, to be brought to his family that was not able to begin closure. 

The family spoke of Ran’s bravery, and that they had more pride than grief. Ran’s father, Itzik, spoke personally in the presence of police officers and soldiers accompanying Ran Gvili on his final journey. Speaking to his son, Itzik said, “You dummy, you had every chance to stay at home,” smiling. “But you said, ‘Dad.’ What did you tell me? ‘I won’t leave my friends to fight alone.'” Itzik continued, “You should see the respect that you’re getting here, everyone who brought you. The whole police force is with you, the whole army is with you, the whole nation is with you.”

As the father’s hand touched his son’s coffin, he said, “I’m proud of you, my son.” Then he bent down and kissed the coffin.

Also overwhelming for Israel is that it’s the first time since 2014 that there are no Israeli hostages in Gaza. But that doesn’t mean Hamas won’t keep trying. In Gaza, where they still control much of the territory, and in Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”) where they have cells and operatives who are waiting to pounce. They’ve done it before. Israeli hostages are currency in their evil Islamic cult of death. 

There are still three Israeli soldiers missing from the 1982 Lebanon War, and former Israeli spy, Eli Cohen, who was hanged in Damascus more than 60 years ago. All Israelis await their homecoming as well. 

While there are no remaining Israeli hostages, there are millions of Palestinian Arabs who are hostage to Hamas. But their suffering is of their own doing. They elected Hamas, and allowed themselves to participate in the brainwashing by its radical Moslem Brotherhood ideology rather than raise generations that aspired to coexistence, if not peace. 

Just as Israel found and repatriated Ran Gvili’s body alone, despite bold statements and aspirations, Israel will be alone to disarm Hamas as “Phase 2” of the 2025 ceasefire begins to be implemented, a cornerstone of which is the disarming of Hamas which they have said they are not going to allow. 

The “Board of Peace” offers little actual hope.  It is mostly smoke and mirrors.  Democratic countries are not on board. While they talk about making a deal and rebuilding Gaza, Israel will pay the price. 

I supplied thousands of the yellow rubber bracelets to people who donated to our Israel Emergency Campaign. I gave some away, including to a friend who wore three.  From exposure to the sun, the words faded, but he never took them off. Yesterday he sent me a picture of his taking them off and cutting them in half while on a business trip. Israelis are removing their yellow ribbon posters, pins, magnets and more, allowing us to move to the next chapter and begin some healing from the 28 months of trauma. 

Will my grandchildren even know that the bracelets existed or what they represented? Will they understand the countless acts of bravery and miracles that Israel experienced amid the terror and trauma? If I haven’t purged all the bracelets and one shows up in a drawer after I am not around, will they wonder what it’s about? Or will this just be part of the legacy that they inherit in an endless war that none of us want or asked for? 

I feel like my next writing ought to be my apology to them, that we didn’t finish the job. But the job must be completed. Not through appeasement but through victory. Yet for now, there is a measure of closure and comfort to Ran’s family and loved ones, to his extended community, to Israel broadly. We owe him our thanks, and to the dedication of hundreds of thousands of soldiers who understood their mission was to bring every last hostage home.  

Now, many of them who put themselves back into reserves spending hundreds of days away from their own families can rest, and Ran can finally rest in peace. 

The Genesis 123 Foundation will host a webinar Sunday, February 1 at 3:00pm Eastern/12:00pm Pacific time (US) with the commander of the unit that was involved with the recovery and return of Ran Gvili’s body. Advance registration is required.