Mother of last Israeli hostage in Gaza pleads with Netanyahu not to move to stage 2 of ceasefire

Phase A of the ceasefire agreement includes the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, a cessation of fighting and prisoner swaps. Phase B is expected to expand humanitarian shipments and begin rebuilding efforts.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The mother of anti-terrorism Unit fighter Ran Gvili asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to advance to the second stage of the hostage deal until her son’s remains are returned from Gaza.

Talik Gvili, mother of the abducted officer who is the last Israeli hostage still held in Gaza, described her recent phone call with the prime minister in a statement.

“The Prime Minister detailed the extensive efforts being made across all systems to bring back Rani and the Thai hostage. The Prime Minister promised to return Rani to us.”

She said she requested of Netanyahu “not to move to Phase B until Rani returns.”

Phase A of the ceasefire agreement includes the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, a cessation of fighting and prisoner swaps. Phase B is expected to expand humanitarian shipments and begin rebuilding efforts.

After the conversation, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement describing Ran Gvili as “a heroic National Anti-Terrorism Unit fighter, who fell in the battle to defend Kibbutz Alumim and was taken hostage to the Gaza Strip on 7 October 2023.”

The statement noted that “Ran is the only Israeli fallen hostage still held by terrorist organizations in Gaza.”

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu informed Talik and Itzik Gvili of “the efforts Israel is making for his return and his determination to bring him for a proper Jewish burial,” adding that the prime minister expressed “deep appreciation to the Gvili family for their stately, principled, and proud stance.”

The family “expressed their appreciation to the IDF, the security forces, the MIA/POW Directorate, and the Prime Minister for the determination to bring back all the hostages, and voiced hope that their son Ran will be returned soon.”

Netanyahu also spoke with Thai Ambassador to Israel Boonyarit Vichienpuntu and updated him on efforts to return fallen hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai national whose body remains in Gaza. He said Israel, the MIA/POW Directorate and the security forces “are making extensive efforts for his return” and reaffirmed Israel’s support for the families of the Thai hostages.

The calls were held with Hostages and Missing Coordinator Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch. Netanyahu said Israel is committed to returning all hostages “until the last one of them.”