Talik Gvili, mother of the last remaining hostage, Ran Gvili, pleaded for the release of her son in a statement ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s trip to the United States, addressing both the public and the negotiating powers involved in bringing her son home.
Gvili was among the first responders and was taken captive to Gaza as he responded to ongoing terror during the October 7 massacre. “I stand here today not only as a mother fighting to bring her son home, but also as someone fighting for the realization of this country’s values—the values that Ran risked his life to defend,” Gvili said.
Gvili noted that she will be flying to the United States to meet with US President Donald Trump at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I am flying to support him, to assist him, and to ensure that there will be no advancement to the next phase until Hamas fulfills its obligations in this stage of the agreement—and above all, its duty to return Ran home,” she said.
She directly addressed the Prime Minister, showing support for Netanyahu’s halt of the ceasefire agreement’s second phase until the terms of the deal are fulfilled properly. “ The original agreement spoke of forty-eight hostages. We have received only forty-seven,” Gvili stated, adding, “My Ran is the 48th hostage. It cannot be that the other side violates agreements and we continue as if nothing happened.”
The slain hostage’s mother emphasized that an agreement, which the President of the United States backed, was made, and that without insistence on its full implementation, their family is at risk of losing Ran’s body forever.
Hamas knows where Ran is
“Not all efforts to return Ran have been exhausted. Hamas knows where he is. Their people, who move freely throughout the Strip, know exactly where Ran is located,” the grieving mother said. “I will not accept a situation where towers are being built and Gaza is being rehabilitated while my Ran is abandoned in the field. The state’s duty is first and foremost to its sons who fell defending it. Ran went out to save lives on October 7th, and now it is our turn to save him and bring him home.”
She emphasized that her trip to the US was for a purpose: to ensure that her son is seen as more than a number and as an Israeli hero. “Mr. Prime Minister, the people are with you in your decision to stand firm on our principles. Until Ran is home, the search does not stop, and we do not advance to Phase Two,” she added.
Gvili also addressed Trump in her remarks. “Mr. President, we will be forever grateful for this remarkable agreement that returned 47 hostages to us, but we are not finished yet. My Ran must come home. I am waiting for Ran; the entire people of Israel are waiting for Ran,” she said, calling on him to use any possible leverage and pressure against Hamas to return her son home.
She concluded, “Anyone who wants to see a different future in the Middle East, a bright future as you have envisioned it, must fully honor all their commitments.”