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When the Last Hostage Came Home
Rachel Goldberg-Polin
January 27, 2026

…On Day 843, Ran Gvili’s body was returned to his family. In a bag. I know the experience of having a child returned that way. For me, when Hersh came home, it was not a happy day. At all. It changed the rest of my life forever, and every day is sodden with grief and pain. So it was confusing for me yesterday to receive many messages telling me how happy I must be. But as more and more texts and emails swam to me, I began to understand the messages were because this specific agonizing mission, to get every hostage home, has concluded. For most people it is indeed a moment of uncomplicated happiness and relief. I am deeply grateful that those people have been with us, and I am glad that, for them, this is over. READ MORE

JNS Ruthie Blum: Burying Ran Gvili, but not the Israeli spirit “Ran, thanks to you, all of Israel was reminded that we are one great and strong nation,” Talik Gvili said while eulogizing her son at his funeral. “Take care up there to unite everyone.” She uttered these words on Jan. 28, two days after Ran Gvili’s body was located in and retrieved from Gaza—two years and nearly four months after his murder and abduction at the hands of Hamas. The 24-year-old master sergeant in the elite Yasam unit of the Israel Police wasn’t on duty when southern Israel was invaded by thousands of terrorists; he was at home awaiting surgery for a broken shoulder.

TIMES OF ISRAEL Grieving family lays last hostage Ran Gvili to rest, closing chapter for anguished nation ‘All the laughter is gone,’ sister says in tearful eulogy as family tells mourners of pride in policeman killed in Oct. 7 attack; Herzog: Healing can now begin; PM attends funeral of a hostage for first time