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Dear A.,
After 843 days, the moment we've prayed for, hoped for, and worked for has arrived. Earlier today, Israeli forces in Gaza located the remains of the final hostage, Ran Gvili, and returned him home to Israel.
Ran's return also marks the first time since 2014 that
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no hostages are being held captive in Gaza.
Ran was a 24-year-old police officer who ran into battle on October 7 and saved countless lives at the Nova festival. Ran was killed protecting his fellow countrymen, and his body was taken captive into Gaza.
May Ran's memory forever be a blessing.
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IDF soldiers stand over Ran Gvili's flag-draped body after it was recovered from northern Gaza.
According to reports, Ran's body was found with the same uniform he donned on October 7, before leaving for the Nova festival site to save lives during Hamas' massacre.
After Ran's body was identified, Israeli President
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Isaac Herzog and IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen.
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Eyal Zamir personally called Ran's parents, Talik and Itzik, to tell them that their son's body was finally being returned home.
Following Ran's return, Herzog and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee
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together removed the yellow chair with Ran's picture from the President's Residence.
"It was particularly symbolic to share this moment with my friend, Ambassador Mike Huckabee, as together we thanked President Trump for his exceptional leadership and commitment to bringing home every last hostage," Herzog said. "Tonight, the people of Israel can slowly begin to heal."
Herzog also posted a video of himself finally removing his yellow hostage pin after having worn it for 843 days straight:
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"Finally, Ran has been returned home to his family in Israel. The entire people of Israel are moved to tears... May Ran's memory be a blessing," Herzog
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said .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the
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Knesset plenum today to thank the IDF soldiers who helped in the mission to return Ran to Israel.
"A short while ago we returned Ran Gvili, a hero of Israel. There are no more hostages in Gaza. I commend the commanders and soldiers of the IDF and the ISA for the perfect execution of this sacred mission. I embrace Talik, Itzik, and the entire noble Gvili family."
"I thank President Trump, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and their team for their great and vital support. I thank the entire People of Israel for their prayers and their strength."
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We applaud the determined efforts and strong leadership of President Trump and his administration to work with Israel to achieve a ceasefire deal that freed all the hostages. We are deeply grateful to the overwhelming majority of Democrats and Republicans in Congress who stood by Israel's side throughout the war and met with hostage families, helping to keep their stories at the forefront of international attention.
Members of Congress are speaking out today in support of Ran’s family. You can find their statements on
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AIPAC’s X feed .
255 hostages were held in Gaza after Hamas' horrific October 7 attack. 168 were brought home alive, and 87 bodies were brought home for burial.
Israel's ability to defend its families, defeat its enemies, and bring every single hostage home would not have been possible without the strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship — a relationship that you play an integral role in ensuring.
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You can read AIPAC's full statement on the return of Ran's body here.
Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.
Jake Braunstein
Senior Director, Policy Communications
MUST WATCH
IDF soldiers sing Hatikvah over Ran Gvili's casket
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IDF soldiers sing Israel's national anthem, Hatikvah, "The Hope," paying respect to the final hostage returned from Gaza — Ran Gvili.
U.S. envoys meet with Netanyahu to discuss advancing peace plan
White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were
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in Israel over the weekend to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss advancing the Gaza peace plan.
The meeting came just two days after the U.S. unveiled its plans for a "New Gaza," which would see the Strip be rebuilt over 10 years, but is contingent on Hamas disarming and giving up power.
U.S. officials
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said , "The ball is in Hamas' court, and as long as they don't give up their weapons, they are preventing Gaza's reconstruction and better lives."
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Meanwhile, the IDF over the weekend completed a year-long mission to destroy a
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two-and-a-half-mile-long Hamas tunnel on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line. The tunnel contained weapons and hideouts for terrorists.
For Phase 2 of the Gaza peace plan to succeed, and for a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike, the United States must increase the pressure on Hamas to fully disarm.
Head of CENTCOM in Israel to meet with IDF generals
Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of
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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), was in Israel on Saturday to meet with top Israeli military officials, including IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, as the U.S. continues its military build-up in the region amid tensions with Iran.
Cooper also met with the head of Israel's Intelligence Directorate, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder and Operations Directorate head Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen.
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Earlier today, the USS Abraham Lincoln
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carrier strike group made its way into the Indian Ocean, positioning itself for any potential U.S. operations in the region.
As the build-up continues, the head of the IDF's Northern Command Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo said the military is prepared for an Iranian retaliation to a U.S. attack on Iran.
"We are prepared and ready so that if the U.S. decides to strike Iran, we understand it could affect Israel, with part of the Iranian response possibly reaching here," Maj. Gen. Milo
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said . "We are very alert, very prepared, and ready both in strong defense and in preparing offensive responses."
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The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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