‘Hamas lost my son’s body, is playing games,’ says hostage’s father

Master Sgt. Ran Gvili’s remains have been held in Gaza for more than two years.

By World Israel News Staff

The father of the last Israeli hostage held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip is expressing doubts that the terror group even knows the location of his son’s body, telling Hebrew-language media that the family is “praying” his body will not be lost forever.

Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, a member of the Yasam elite police unit, was killed in battle against invading Hamas terrorists on October 7. His body was abducted to Gaza and has been held by the terror group for more than two years.

Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak are the final two deceased hostages whose remains have not yet been returned to Israel.

“We pray that he won’t be another Ron Arad, another [Hadar] Goldin, and that we won’t carry this [burden] around for many, many years,” Gvili’s father, Itzik, said in an emotional interview with Hebrew-language KAN News.

Arad was an Israeli Air Force navigator whose plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986. He was captured by local terror groups, who initially provided proof of life and entered negotiations with Israel, but eventually contact was lost. He has long been presumed dead.

Goldin, an IDF officer, was killed during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. His body was abducted by Hamas and held for 11 years before finally being returned to Israel in early November.

Gvili’s father said the family does not believe that Hamas is genuinely interested in abiding by the terms of the Trump-brokered ceasefire and returning his body.

“Hamas says they’re looking for his body, but we don’t see any progress,” he said.

He added that he believes the terror group “are playing games and deceiving us.”

Despite being told his son was killed fighting terrorists, Gvili said he will continue to hold out hope for a miracle until the body is returned.

“Just as Ran didn’t forget the country that day, I don’t want the country to forget him,” he continued.