Hundreds rally in Tel Aviv demanding return of final hostage Ran Gvili as US moves forward with Gaza plan

Hundreds gathered at a Shabbat service event in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Friday afternoon to demand the return of the final unrecovered hostage body – that of slain police officer Ran Gvili, a member of the Yasam police unit killed while battling terrorists at Kibbutz Alumim on Oct. 7, 2023. His body was abducted to Gaza, where it remains.

The Gvili family and their supporters reiterated that Israel should not move forward with phase two of the U.S. Gaza plan while his body is still in the enclave. Their statement came after Washington announced it intends to proceed with the next phase as reported by The Times of Israel.

The event, organized by the Kibbutz Movement and Kibbutz Eyal, brought together family, friends, and supporters. Ran’s father, Itzik Gvili, told attendees, “Without all of your strength, we would be nothing.” He added that an event like this – bringing people together in solidarity – would have meant a great deal to his son: “That’s so him. His dream was to see us loving one another, and we love everyone. Wherever we go, it’s one big family. Everything you do for us is not taken for granted.”

Former Israeli hostage Agam Berger performed the song “Habayta” (“Homeward”) on the violin at Hostages Square – her first appearance there since her release in February 2025. “I am here to fulfill the promise to bring Ran home – to his home, to his country, to his homeland, to his family, to us,” she said. “Just now I am marking a year since you brought me home, but we will not truly be home until Ran returns. We pray for his return, and this melody is dedicated to bringing him back.”

While the family and supporters called for justice for their son and his return, the United States announced it would proceed with the next phase. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday that phase two of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan is moving forward, including the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian administration in the Strip.

According to the The Times of Israel, Witkoff acknowledged that the United States would not “consider the mission complete” until the final hostage body is recovered, but reiterated that “we are not going to hold up going to phase two for that because both parties have agreed to continue working in good faith.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Gvili’s parents following Witkoff’s announcement. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, he told them that Gvili’s return “is at the top of Israel’s priorities, and that the declarative move to establish a committee of technocrats [to manage Gaza] will not affect in any way the efforts to bring Ran back for burial in Israel.”

Gvili’s mother, Talik, said she opposes initiating phase two until her son is returned. “Moving to phase two at this moment, while the efforts to return Ran have yet to be exhausted, is a loss of the most significant leverage and may be a sentence of eternal disappearance for Ran,” she said. “Until Ran is returned, the State of Israel will not be able to close its most bloody wound and will not be able to begin the rehabilitation and healing that it so desperately needs. Phase two must not be implemented as long as Ran has not returned home.”

Additional rallies took place Saturday evening, including in Meitar, the Gvili family’s home community, and at the Kshatot Junction in southern Israel. At the Meitar rally, held at the high school Gvili attended, his family criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage situation.

“As we are here, waiting for his return, a Board of Peace is being built for phase two,” said Ran’s parents, Itzik and Talik. “How can anything be thinking about phase two? What peace is even being talked about? Peace for those who are refusing to return our son even though they are obligated to do so under the deal, despite the promises from Israel, the mediators and the American president. As father and mother, we call on anyone with a hand in this – don’t let it happen. Don’t leave our Rani behind and bury us together with him.”

While they expressed their trust in Netanyahu, the Gvilis called the formation of the Board of Peace “very problematic,” saying the Trump administration “is rushing to rebuild Gaza without forcing Hamas to uphold its part of the deal. This forgiveness toward a terror group starts with giving up on Rani, and ends with leaving Hamas armed and dangerous. Whoever gives up on Rani gives up the security of the entire State of Israel.”