Leaders mark return of Ran Gvili after 843 days

Australian Jewish leaders have described the return of the body of Israel’s last remaining hostage Ran Gvili to Israel for burial as providing a measure of “closure”.

His body was located and identified in a Muslim cemetery in Gaza on Monday and brought to Israel for burial on Wednesday.

Gvili, 24, served as police officer and despite having a broken shoulder, on hearing of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, drove to Kibbutz Alumim, where he fought terrorists before he was killed and his body abducted to Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025, required Hamas release all living and deceased hostages within 72 hours, but the return of deceased hostages continued for months.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We promised, and I promised, to bring everyone back, and we brought everyone back.”

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated, “We hope this brings a measure of solace and closure for Mr Gvili’s family and loved ones, as well as with the broader Jewish community and the people of Israel. For more than two years, Australia has been part of international calls for Hamas to return all hostages. We continue to support the implementation of the US-led peace plan.”

Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto called Gvili “a hero of our people.”

“The return of his body is a bittersweet moment that brings a measure of closure to his family and to all of Am Yisrael.

“For 843 days we have waited to lay Ran to rest, alongside our yellow pins and Bring Them Home signs, carrying both our grief and our promise never to give up…as his coffin draped in the flag of Israel returns home, we honour him with the dignity he deserves, and we hold his family in our hearts.”

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) executive director Colin Rubenstein commented, “AIJAC has long said that this war cannot end until every last hostage, alive and dead, was returned home.

“Now that for the first time since 2014, there are no more hostages left in captivity, we can begin discussing the next steps for the future of Gaza and hopes for peace in the region, which must start with the immediate disarming of Hamas and recognition that dignity, security and hope for both Palestinians and Israelis cannot be built while Hamas remains armed and in power.

“Australia has a moral responsibility to be clear-eyed and resolute on this truth.”

National Council of Jewish Women president Lynda Rae Ben-Menashe told The AJN, “With the return of Ran’s body, a chapter of grief closes for the members of the Gvili family and also our global Jewish family. But the book of ongoing trauma remains open and Jewish Australian women are on the frontlines managing that trauma for our community. NCJWA is also working in partnership with our other Jewish peak bodies and Australian decision-makers to try to forge a new story in this country.”