As preparations begin for the Board of Peace and for phase two of the Gaza ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump said that U.S. intelligence may know the location of the final hostage, Ran Gvili. The Jerusalem Post reports that Gvili’s family echoed the president’s statements, stressing that the next steps are up to the United States and Israel. They urged both governments to increase pressure on Hamas, which they say has stalled his return for the past three months.
“The responsibility now lies with the Government of Israel and the US administration to exert the full weight of their authority to ensure that Hamas fulfills its obligations under the agreement, or guarantee that serious sanctions are imposed on Hamas.”
“We have no doubt that he is a man of his word, and we believe we will see Rani home soon,” she concluded, reaffirming that the government must “refrain from any steps toward implementing phase two until Rani has returned.”
Staff Sgt. Maj. Gvili was defending Kibbutz Alumim on October 7 when he was wounded and taken by Hamas. His mother claims that Israeli intelligence suggested he was alive, but that he died when he was denied medical care by his terrorist captors.
The terror group reportedly restarted its search for him this month in northern Gaza, in the Yellow Line–divided neighborhood of Zeitoun. While Israel has focused on enforcing the ceasefire rather than moving into phase two, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted Trump’s invitation to join the Board of Peace.
Gvili and his family have been in The Fellowship’s and our supporters’ prayers. Gvili’s mother has tirelessly spoken out on behalf of her son and the other hostages. Her advocacy reflects the nonnegotiable goal of seeing all Israel’s hostages taken on October 7 returned, so the Holy Land can heal after two years of war.