The Last Hostage in Gaza - Hero Ran Gvili

Melanie Preston
1 day ago
4 min read

There were 251 hostages taken on October 7th, 2023.

The youngest was 9 months old, and the oldest was 86.

Most were civilians, taken from their beds and their homes, in their pajamas on a Saturday morning. Others had gone to a party to celebrate peace or were working at the party as a bartender or in security. Many had just witnessed the murder of at least one family member, friend, or partner, and all were privy to the destruction of their land as they were dragged away from it.

They watched the homes of their neighbors burn, as screams came from every direction, and ashes rose to the sky, carrying with them a horror we thought we would never see in this land - this Jewish homeland we had longed for. In order to be safe - to ensure this would never again - happen to our people.

Many taken were children, and many were women. Most were parents, and several were grandparents. All were taken by surprise, and all were stolen on a Saturday morning. Some were murdered before they were dragged - and others were murdered after.

But any and all who were taken alive were tortured, and any and all who were taken were starved. They were beaten and belittled. They were chained and neglected. They were sexually abused, and they were treated worse than animals.

But there were 100 party goers whose fate did not become death and did not become enslavement - and that is because they crossed paths with a 24-year-old man named Ran Gvili - a man who was lying at home injured that morning when the worst attack in modern Israel's history broke out.

He was lying in pain, waiting for a shoulder surgery, so he could have just stayed put - but he didn't. His family was together in his safe room on the morning of the attack, but Ran left the shelter and returned in his uniform - he was in the Israel Special Police Patrol Unit - a volunteer from his town of Meitar, and he said to his family that he would not let his friends fight alone, and that even with his injury he could still hold his handgun.

Ran's parents, Itzik and Talik Gvili. Photo: Portuguese Jewish News

“I will never forget the look in his eyes. It was as if he was saying, ‘This is what I have waited for my entire life,'” his father Itzik told the Columbus Jewish News. From his home, he went to the Be'ersheva police station, where he joined the forces that were headed to Alumim. He was shot in both the arm and the leg during fighting, but it is known that in addition to saving the lives of 100 Nova Festival party goers, he also killed 14 Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Alumim. It was ruled by experts that Ran was no longer alive in Gaza as of January 2024, but until the hostages are returned home, there is no certainty for the family, and therefore no clarity or closure. For those of us in Israel who have been a part of the Hostage Family Forum community, the Saturday night rallies continued weekly throughout this entire war until two weekends ago - but stopped with two hostages remaining - Ran Gvili and Thai worker Sudthisak Rinthalak - but the remains of Mr. Rinthalak, of blessed memory, were since returned to Israel, and yesterday were flown to Thailand, after a ceremony at Ben Gurion airport, making Ran Gvili now the very last hostage in Gaza. His family requested a Kabbalat Shabbat gathering last Friday afternoon in Hostage Square, and this will be held again tomorrow, but this week must have been especially anxiety-provoking for them, as Israel was hit with a treacherous storm, causing any search for remains to be more than challenging. One can only imagine the excruciating agony of his family, fearing that their Ran could be left behind. And yet, what I continue to read is that if there was anything Ran would have wanted, it would have been to see everyone returned home before he was, causing me to marvel again and again at the character of this young man, and making me grateful to be learning so much about him at the very end of this long war and endless struggle to bring the hostages home. Another beautiful thing to see although not at all surprising is the family of Hadar Goldin, having just finally gotten their son back after eleven years of fighting to bring him home for burial - posting regularly that the fight is not over until Ran Gvili is brought home. It's as if just the thought of another family having to endure even a fraction of the time that they experienced is just completely out of the question for them. I myself am optimistic that Ran will be brought home very soon. I have seen his sister and father speak frequently in Hostage Square, and they stood near me at Dror Or's funeral last Sunday in Kibbutz Be'eri. They were there to support Dror's family and the Be'eri community on their last of more than 110 funerals in a little more than two years, and the kindness in his father's eyes couldn't be missed and could only be commended, given what he has been going through. To the Gvili family - we are waiting to be by your side in the near future when Ran is brought home - and we will not give up the fight until Ran is returned to you, and to us - here in our land of Israel. Shabbat Shalom from Israel.