IDF recovers body of final 7 October hostage Ran Gvili
Discovery of police sergeant’s remains ends more than two years of anguish for Israeli families
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has recovered and identified the body of Ran Gvili, the final Israeli hostage held in Gaza since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October, bringing the hostage crisis to an end after more than two years.
Gvili, a sergeant first class in the Israeli Police Special Forces, was killed during the 2023 massacres after heading out to confront terrorists despite being on leave with a shoulder injury. His body was abducted to Gaza and remained there throughout the war.
The IDF said his remains were recovered on Monday afternoon from a Muslim cemetery in eastern Gaza City, following new intelligence contradicting Hamas claims that his body had been buried under rubble.
Specialist recovery units, forensic experts and dental pathologists have been operating at the site since the weekend. Identification was carried out by Israel’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine in cooperation with Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate.
In a statement, an IDF spokesperson said: “Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of the deceased hostage Sergeant First Class Ran Gvili, that their loved one has been identified and will be returned for burial.
“According to the information and intelligence available to us, Sergeant First Class Ran Gvili, who served in the Israeli Police Special Forces, 24 years old at the time of his death, fell in combat on the morning of 7 October 2023, and his body was abducted to the Gaza Strip.
“The IDF expresses deep condolences to his family. The IDF will continue too support the families and the returnees, and to act to strengthen the security of the citizens of Israel.
“With this, all hostages have been returned from the Gaza Strip to the State of Israel.”
Gvili’s remains were due to be handed over within 72 hours of the ceasefire that came into force in October last year, but the transfer did not take place.
Nivi Feldman, leader of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK, said: ” We mourn Ran Gvili, who defended Israel until his last breath. May his memory be a blessing. Our hearts are with his parents, family, and loved ones.
“Our responsibility now continues: to honour every victim, to ensure their stories are never forgotten, and to support survivors and families through the long road ahead.
“I extend profound thanks to the dedicated teams in Israel and the UK, and to supporters worldwide, who never stopped fighting for the return of every hostage.”
The Board of Deputies for British Jews President, Phil Rosenberg, said:“After 843 days of pain, we are moved and relieved at the news that Israel has located and identified the body of Ran Gvili, the final hostage held by Hamas in Gaza since its onslaught of 7 October. We send all our love to Ran’s parents, Talik and Itzik Gvili, and wish them every comfort as they receive their son and lay him to rest in Israel.
“Never again must Israel face an onslaught of the sort it faced on 7 October. And as we move to phase two of the ceasefire we need to see the disarmament and removal of Hamas from Gaza. With terror excised from the enclave, there is no reason why Gaza cannot become a place of peace and prosperity.
“It is time for us to seize this moment of opportunity and redouble our efforts towards lasting peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Middle East.”
For the Jewish community, the confirmation brings a grim sense of closure to one of the most painful chapters since 7 October – marking the return of every hostage taken by Hamas, alive or dead, to Israeli soil.
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