The Hostage and Missing Families Forum held rallies at several locations across Israel on Saturday, sending a "clear and unequivocal message" that the final hostage, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili will not be left behind.
"The wound will not heal, and none of us will be able to recover as long as Gvili is in Gaza. 'Until the last hostage' is one of the values we grew up with, and it is our responsibility to bring him back," the forum stated.
Gvili's mother, Talik, addressed the crowd at a rally in Meitar, where the Gvili family lives.
"You do not understand how much it fills us when we see you. It is a certain feeling that we truly are one people," she said.
"It is about unity, and about togetherness," she added.
"We truly probably need all of you, exactly like this. Especially at this time, in the coming days, we need as much encouragement as possible," she continued.
"The head of Military Intelligence told us to tell everyone we can - anyone who can hear and listen, simply echo Ran's name, as much as possible, in the media, not only in Israel, but also abroad, there are all kinds of friends who are not here," she affirmed.
"Continuing the echo is what creates strength and shows the whole world that we are one people. No matter what we think, we are one people, and we are all here for one another," she concluded, thanking those present for their help.
Shai Wenkert, father of freed hostage Omer, also addressed the crowd.
"My Omer was returned after 505 days of hell in Hamas tunnels through a signed agreement," he told the crowd.
"But my struggle has not ended, our struggle has not ended. There is still a hostage in Gaza, Ran Gvili, who must be brought home," he affirmed.
"I am here because I committed to the families of hostages that I would continue the struggle until all hostages are home. I ask all of us to stand together to bring Gvili home, to keep the struggle in public awareness, to echo his return everywhere possible," he continued.
"Now it is the turn of the people and the nation to act together until we bring him home," he concluded.
Iris Haim, mother of Yotam, who was accidentally shot dead by the IDF after escaping Hamas terrorists, also addressed the gathering.
"What held Yotam in captivity was friendship," she said.
"Only togetherness held them together in the most terrible and dangerous place in the world. It was only their togetherness, in their desire to return home, together," she added.
"We are in the process of change, and Ran and the whole Gvili family are part of the change. You have no choice, you are here waiting, but I also say that we will not sit and wait," she continued.
"We will raise the frequency to one of love, of connection, of togetherness. We will not allow hurtful words to seep in, we will not give it space, we will not be dragged to that place, because I truly think that this is what Ran would want," she concluded.
Relatives of freed hostages and supporters also gathered in Sha'ar Hanegev.
The aunt of hostage twins, Gali and Ziv Berman, was one of those who spoke at this rally.
"Many tell me that the rescue of Gali and Ziv is a miracle, especially close to Haukkah. No! No miracles happened here," she affirmed.
"Gali and Ziv are heroes who survived and defeated evil thanks to their spirit, strength, and faith. Their rescue is thanks to the Trump administration, the heroic soldiers, and the people who did not give up. Each and every one of you was on the right side of history," she continued.
"Now we need to correct the injustices - to fight for the establishment of a state commission that will investigate the greatest failure and abandonment since the establishment of the State of Israel," she added.
"The conclusions must be exposed to the public, especially for the thousands of bereaved families of the October 7 massacre - civilians and soldiers, wounded in body and soul," she continued.
"We have the IDF and the security forces, and we have the people's army. We deserve worthy leadership," she concluded.
Gvili's cousin, Tehila Sadeh, also spoke at the rally.
"Help us bring back the light. We need you. We need your support to act for Ran so that he can return home," she said.
"As long as he is in darkness, we are all in darkness. As long as he is in captivity, our nation is also still captive," she continued.
"He is the last one, and he has become a symbol of courage of the Jewish people. We will not rest until he returns home, and we will do whatever is required to fulfil this miracle," she affirmed.
"Our previous actions prove how serious we are. There will be no next stage [in the Gaza ceasefire deal] until Ran returns to our beautiful and holy land," she concluded.
Ran's aunt addressed the crowd gathered at a further rally in Karmei Gat.
"Ran did not see fear or personal injury; he saw only one mission before his eyes - saving lives," she stated.
"I have no words to comfort you, but I know the only thing that can close this circle of pain is the return of the final hostage," she concluded.
Bar Rudaeff, son of Lior, who was murdered during the massacre, with his remains taken into Gaza before being returned for burial in November, also spoke at this rally.
"Ran deserves to return for a proper burial, just as my father and many others returned. The State of Israel deserves that Ran be returned to be buried in it," Rudaeff said.
"But instead, we have a smokescreen. They deal with background noise that only weakens and divides us," he affirmed.
"Nothing matters if Hamas can build 'Ran Gvili Square' where Hadar Goldin Square once stood. Because as long as Ran is not home, Hamas has won," he concluded.
Israel continues pressuring Egyptian, Qatari mediators to pressure Hamas to resume searches for Gvili's remains - KAN
Israel continues to exert heavy pressure on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to instruct Hamas to immediately resume searching for Gvili's remains, Israel's public broadcaster KAN News reported on Saturday evening.
The United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey are working toward the "near-term establishment and operationalization" of Gaza's Board of Peace as part of the ceasefire's transition into its second phase, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said in a joint statement released on Saturday evening.
Witkoff's comments came following a Friday meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. It was the first meeting between all four senior officials since the ceasefire agreement was signed in October.
"In our discussions regarding phase two, we emphasized enabling a governing body in Gaza under a unified Gazan authority to protect civilians and maintain public order," he wrote on X/Twitter.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.