The Last Journey: Israel Buries Final Hostage Ran Gvili Z"L | WATCH
After 843 days, Maj. Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage in Gaza, is buried in his hometown of Meitar. Recovered in a daring IDF operation, his return marks the official end of the hostage crisis from Oct. 7.
In a day of profound national closure and grief, Israel is laying to rest Maj. Ran Gvili, the last of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. His funeral today marks the end of an 843-day saga that has haunted the nation since the start of the war.
The funeral procession began Wednesday morning at Camp Shura, where the Military Rabbinate and Israel Police held an honor guard ceremony. Accompanied by a massive police motorcade, the coffin is currently traveling toward Gvili's hometown of Meitar in the Negev, with thousands of Israelis lining the bridges and roads of Highway 6 to pay their final respects.
The Hero of Kibbutz Alumim
Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old officer in the elite YASAM Negev unit, became a symbol of self-sacrifice. On the morning of October 7, despite being off-duty and awaiting surgery for a broken shoulder, Gvili put on his uniform and rushed to Kibbutz Alumim.
He fought valiantly against waves of terrorists, successfully preventing a massacre at the kibbutz before being critically wounded. His body was then abducted to Gaza. For nearly four months, his family held onto hope that he was alive, until a forensic committee determined in January 2024 that he had fallen in battle.
Gvili’s body was recovered on Monday, January 26, 2026, in a complex IDF operation in eastern Gaza City. Military dentists and forensic experts worked through the night to confirm his identity.
The recovery was a pivotal moment for the state:
With Gvili’s return, the IDF officially announced that "there are no more hostages in captivity in Gaza" for the first time in over a decade.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the operation as a "sacred fulfillment" of the promise to leave no one behind, stating, "We brought them all back, down to the very last one."
The main eulogy ceremony is scheduled for 12:30 PM at the Meitar Sports Center. President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu are expected to speak alongside the Gvili family, who became pillars of faith and resilience throughout their long wait.
Following the public ceremony, a private burial will take place at 2:30 PM in the Meitar cemetery. Per the family's request, the burial will be closed to the media to allow for a final, intimate goodbye.