Netanyahu speaks to parents of last Israeli hostage in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday phoned the parents of Israel Police counter-terrorism officer Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, whose body remains in the Gaza Strip, held by Palestinian terrorists along with that of Thai agricultural worker Sudthisak Rinthalak.

“The prime minister conveyed his deep appreciation to the Gvili family for their dignified, principled and proud conduct, and said that Rani’s heroism and fall in battle evoke in him, in his wife and in the entire people of Israel endless pain, awe and pride,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Netanyahu provided Gvili’s parents, Talik and Itzik, with details about Israel’s efforts to recover their son’s remains and expressed his determination to return the body for burial in Israel, the PMO relayed.

“The Gvili family expressed their appreciation to the IDF, the security forces, the Missing and Captured Personnel Directorate and the prime minister for their determination to bring back all the hostages, and voiced hope that their son Rani will be returned soon,” the Prime Minister’s Office added.

Gvili left the hospital, where he was awaiting surgery, and was killed inaction defending Kibbutz Alumim near the Gaza border during the Palestinian terrorist invasion on Oct. 7, 2023. Terrorists took his body to the Strip.

Later on Friday, Netanyahu spoke with the Thai Ambassador to Israel Boonyarit Vichienpuntu and updated him on the efforts to recover the remains of Rinthalak.

On Thursday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog talked over the phone with Gvili’s parents.

“I called Ran’s parents, Talik and Itzik, and told them that we have not forgotten them for one moment, and that their emotional turmoil, pain, and suffering are felt deeply in the hearts of the people of Israel,” tweeted Herzog following the conversation.

“I give the IDF and our security forces my full support in their efforts to locate Ran and Sudthisak. We will not rest nor be silent until they return home,” he added.

On Friday, Itzik and Talik Gvili met with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

“I reaffirmed our commitment to the immediate and unconditional return of Ran and Sudthisak Rinthalak, the last two hostages in Gaza’s dungeons,” said the U.S. envoy.

Also present was Ruby Chen, the father of U.S.-Israeli dual citizen Itay Chen, whose body was returned to Israel on Nov. 4.

Chen, a tank commander in the 77th Battalion, was killed in action at the Nahal Oz post during the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion. Hamas terrorists took his body to the Gaza Strip, where it remained for 760 days.

On Nov. 25, Israel also redeemed the body of Dror Or, whom Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists murdered at Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7, 2023. His wife, Yonat, was killed the same day, and two of his children, Alma (13 at the time) and Noam (17 at the time), were taken hostage and later returned alive as part of a ceasefire agreement in November 2023.

The previous handover took place on Nov. 13, when Hamas handed over the body of Meny Godard.

On Thursday, Itzik Gvili said that Hamas claims not to know where his son’s body is located. He expressed fear Israel may never recover him.

“We pray that there won’t be another Ron Arad, another Goldin, and that we won’t carry this around for many, many years,” he told the Kan public broadcaster. “Hamas says they’re looking, but they don’t see any progress. They’re shaking us up, playing games, and hanging us.”

Lt. Col. Ron Arad is an Israeli Air Force navigator who ejected over Lebanon in 1986, was captured by Amal terrorist group and later handed over to Hezbollah. He is still missing. Lt. Hadar Goldin was killed in Gaza during a 2014 battle with Hamas and his remains were held there before being returned to Israel on Nov. 9.