Dear Friends,

After 843 days, the body of Ran Gvili, the final hostage held in Gaza since October 7, 2023, is finally home. His body was recovered from Gaza and returned to Israel for burial earlier today.

Ran, a 24-year-old police officer, was killed defending Kibbutz Alumim from Hamas terrorists. Despite being on medical leave, he refused to stay home while his brothers and sisters were under attack.

Ran was among the first to join the battle; he is the last to come home. The painful chapter in the history of Israel and Jewish People worldwide that opened on October 7 has now closed.

As with each of the 251 returning hostages over the past 27 months, Ran’s homecoming brings an equal measure of pain and relief. Ran’s release also marks the first time in 12 years that no Israelis are being held in Gaza.

Immediately upon hearing the news, my daughter, who has been studying in Israel for the past three years, wrote to our family, “they’re all back!” Israel’s President Isaac Herzog marked the moment by removing the yellow ribbon lapel pin that he, and many of us, have worn for nearly 850 days.

Lior Krengel, CJP’s Israel Director, shared these thoughts about Ran’s return:

“Ran was the last hostage still held in Hamas captivity, and today, as a society and as a people, we close a circle and fulfill the verse from the book of Prophet Jeremiah, ‘And the children shall return to their borders.’ We are all sending the Gvili family a big hug and remind them that they are not alone.”

Today also marks the end of the work of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel, which CJP supported immediately after its creation. Malki Shem Tov, father of former hostage Omer Shem Tov and co-founder of the Forum, reached out from Israel today:

“On behalf of myself and all the families, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to CJP for your unwavering support, solidarity, and partnership throughout this entire period. Your commitment stood with us during our darkest moments. Today, we formally close the Hostages Headquarters. We do so with gratitude, humility, and remembrance.”

On March 17, we will have an opportunity to come together as a community with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, parents of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin (z”L), who was murdered by Hamas while in captivity in August 2024. More information about this special event will be available soon.

Thank you all for 843 days of prayers, advocacy, resilience, and hope. I am so proud to be part of this community and the Jewish People.

May Ran's memory be a blessing, and may his family, and the people of Israel, find comfort among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.