'Hero of Kibbutz Alumim': Israel reacts to news of final hostage Ran Gvili's return

His mother, Talik, commented that he was the "first to go and fight in defense of the Gaza border communities, and the last to be returned, our hero!"

"We all wore the pin, and now that the mission is complete, the time has come to remove it. For 'the sons have returned to their borders, and the daughters have returned to their borders,'" he added, quoting the biblical book of Jeremiah.

He also thanked Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, government colleagues, US President Donald Trump, the Trump administration's special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and the administration's team for "their great and vital support."

Earlier, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir called the Gvili family to inform them that the military successfully located Gvili's remains in the Gaza Strip.

"We kept our promise to leave no one behind - IDF soldiers, the fighters on the front lines, and the entire nation are excited about Ran's return to be buried in Israel," he said.

"The Hamas terrorist organization held in captivity throughout the years four Israeli citizens, the citizens Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, and IDF soldiers, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin and Staff-Sergeant Oron Shaul, who fell in battle during Operation Protective Edge in 2014," the IDF said.

"On the morning of Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023, the IDF failed in its primary mission - to protect the citizens of the State of Israel. The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip infiltrated into Israeli territory and conducted a brutal massacre, in which more than 1,200 people were murdered and took hostage 251 people, including civilians, soldiers, and foreign citizens. Since October 7, the IDF rose and prevailed, guided by its moral duty to return all the hostages," it continued.

"Throughout the entire war, IDF troops operated day and night, on the front lines and deep in enemy territory, while greatly endangering their lives, with unwavering determination and a deep commitment to the sanctity of life, in order to establish the conditions that would allow the return of all the hostages, the living and the deceased as one," it added.

"The return of all of the hostages from the Gaza Strip to the State of Israel was made possible as a result of the ongoing joint efforts of the entire IDF, headed by the Southern Command, the Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters, the Intelligence Directorate, the Manpower Directorate, the Operations Directorate, the Technological and Logistics Directorate, alongside the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Israel Police," it clarified.

"The return of the hostages, including the last deceased hostage, was carried out over two years of intense combat and represents the promise between the IDF and the citizens of the State of Israel - to never leave anyone behind," it affirmed.

"The entire IDF bows its head and remembers the hundreds of civilians murdered, the 924 IDF soldiers who fell in battle and fought with bravery in order to achieve the war’s goals and the moral duty to return the hostages, as well as the security forces personal who risked their lives, the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones, and the 20,000 injured individuals in body and in soul who were wounded for the protection of the State of Israel," it noted.

"The IDF has the responsibility and duty to integrate and implement the lessons from October 7th and to move forward toward growth, with a deep sense of commitment to the security of the State of Israel and its citizens, and to promise that the events of October 7 will never repeat themselves," it concluded.

"The promise was fulfilled. The last hostage, Ran Gvili, who fell in battle at Kibbutz Alumim, was returned and brought to burial in Israel. On October 7, Ran was on vacation while awaiting surgery. Nevertheless, he hurried to the Gaza border communities to defend his country and his people. The first to go to fight, and the last to return. We will never forget him," Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar wrote on X/Twitter.

"Our heart is with the Gvili family, who demonstrated extraordinary courage and strength," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on X.

"I congratulate you on completing the identification process of Gvili, who will finally be laid to rest in a fitting burial in Israel," opposition leader Yair Lapid commented.

"Gvili, an Israel Police Special Patrol Unit member who fought on October 7, was the last hostage in Gaza. I embrace his family, knowing how hard you fought for his return, and strengthen the security forces who did everything to bring him back," Lapid added.

"Since October 7, my heart has been with the Gvili family. I accompanied them through this agonizing journey, through moments of hope and the torments of uncertainty, and they became for me an inseparable part of the heart," National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote.

"Today, upon hearing the news of his identification, the emotions are mixed and tumultuous. The heart breaks over the loss of a police officer, an Israeli hero who gave his life to save others, and shares in the immense grief of the Gvili family, alongside great relief and joy that Gvili is no longer in the hands of the enemy," he added.

"Gvili, the hero, returns to his homeland after 843 days," President Isaac Herzog wrote on X.

"The Special Patrol Unit officer who went out to save lives finally returns to his country, his family, and his land. An entire nation is moved to tears. All our hearts are with his parents, and the entire family, who waged a noble and heroic battle for his return," he added.

"From the bottom of our hearts, thanks to everyone who was involved in bringing him home. Thank you for an unprecedented operation and fulfilling the sacred mitzvah of redeeming captives," he continued.

"Since 2014, and after many long and difficult years, there is no longer an Israeli citizen in the Gaza Strip. An entire nation prayed and waited for this moment, and now the circle has been closed," he concluded.

Herzog also posted a video of himself and First Lady Michal Herzog removing their yellow hostage pins from their lapels, and removing other yellow hostage symbolic items from the President's Residence and office.

"The 255 hostages have returned home. We fought for every single one of them, but we must not make a mistake - the end of the hostages chapter is the opening shot for our next battle." Democrats party leader Yair Golan said.

"I say from here, sharply and clearly - no more slogans, and no more cover-ups. We demand a state commission of inquiry, now! Our duty is to ensure that such a failure never repeats itself, and that no Israeli family ever goes through this hell again. We will not relent until the truth comes to light," he affirmed.

"Ran, who was on sick leave with a broken shoulder, left his home in a heroic drive to make contact [with the infiltrating terrorists], and declared that he would not let his comrades fight alone," Yisrael Beitenu party leader and former defense minister Avigdor Liberman said.

He "rescued dozens of Nova music festival survivors under heavy fire, and then proceeded to Alumim to join forces operating in the area. Despite severe injuries to his hand and leg, he continued to fight bravely. He killed at least 14 terrorists before he fell and was abducted," he eulogized.

"He is Israel's hero, and his bravery will forever be a legacy and an example to us all," he concluded.

"Gvili's return underscores the moral imperative and the supreme Jewish commitment to bring all Israel back to their graves. Now, with no Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas, we must act to rehabilitate the communities, to investigate the truth on a national level through a state commission of inquiry, and to preserve our strength against our enemies," Yoav Gallant, who was defense minister during the October 7 massacre, wrote.

Police Commissioner Daniel Levy spoke with Itzik Gvili, and emphasized Ran's determination and bravery.

"An officer in the Special Patrol Unit, he shielded the civilians of the State of Israel with his body, acting with courage and self-sacrifice in defense of others," the Israel Police statement read.

"This moment belongs not only to the families, but to the millions in Israel and around the world who stood with us. To every government, organization, journalist, and individual who refused to look away, who raised their voices, applied pressure, and believed this mission could be completed, we offer our deepest gratitude. The struggle to bring the hostages home has ended," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated.

"We waited 843 days for this moment - a painful moment, but also a moment of acceptance and comfort," Michal Uziyahu, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, commented.

"Now we can begin the real reconstruction and grow from the great rift in Eshkol, the country, and the Jewish people," she added.

"He was a brave soldier, a family man, and a beloved person who grew up and was educated here in Meitar," Shimon Peretz, head of the Meitar local council, where Gvili lived, commented.

"For over two years, we all hoped for the day when he would return home, we expected and prayed for a different ending. Today, upon his return to Israel, our hearts are with his noble family, who experienced immeasurable pain. On behalf of all the residents of Meitar, we bow our heads, cherish his heroism and strengthen the family at this difficult time," he added.

The Tikva Forum, which advocates for the hostages and their families, said, “Rani the hero went out on Simchat Torah for the people of Israel and the State of Israel, and now the people of Israel have brought him home. Along with the great pain, this is an emotional day of closing the circle for Itzik and Talik, and for the entire people of Israel."

With the return of Gvili’s body, it was cleared for publication that Israeli actor and singer Idan Amedi, best known internationally for starring in the hit TV show Fauda, had participated in the operation to locate the remains.