Israeli unity defies terror as nation refuses any deal while Hamas still desecrates fallen hero.
Hundreds of Israelis gathered Friday at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, sheltering inside the Beit Ariela Library, to honor Ran Gvili—the final Israeli hostage whose body remains held by the Hamas terror organization in Gaza. Despite harsh weather, the message was unwavering: no second phase, no compromises, until Ran comes home.
The Kabbalat Shabbat service was led by Kibbutz Alumim and the Kibbutz Movement, drawing hostage families, Gaza-border residents, Border Police officers, October 7 first responders, and supporters from across Israel. Speakers stressed that Ran has now been held for 826 days, a moral stain that cannot be ignored.
Among the speakers was captivity survivor Bar Kupershtein, abducted from the Nova music festival and freed in the most recent deal. He described Shabbat as his only anchor in Hamas captivity.
“In the darkness, Shabbat was freedom,” he said. “Ran went out wounded to protect others. Now it’s our duty—as Jews, as Israelis—to fight for him.”
Ran’s parents, Talik and Itzik Gvili, arrived directly from the Tiberias Marathon dedicated to their son’s return. Itzik stated that Ran saved an entire kibbutz on October 7, adding that Gaza-border communities cannot truly rebuild while Hamas continues to withhold his body.
“If faced with the same choice again—even captivity—Ran would do it all over again,” his father said. “That is who my son is.”
Talik Gvili emphasized unity over individual heroism, reminding the crowd that Hamas kidnapped 255 Israelis, and that the families of the 254 returned hostages continue standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them. Hamas, she said, will not break Israeli solidarity.
Additional prayers and remarks were delivered by Rabbi Amit Kula, Tamir Idan, and representatives of resilience and emergency teams who fought beside Ran on October 7.
The service concluded with a powerful rendition of Hatikvah, sung by Ran’s parents and the very responders who stood with him in battle—underscoring a national truth: Israel does not abandon its heroes, and Hamas will not dictate Israel’s moral red lines.
