From the Liveblog of
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Father of Hadar Goldin says return of final hostage Ran Gvili is all of ‘Israel’s issue’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
The father of Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose remains were returned from Gaza in November after being held there by Hamas since he was killed in the 2014 war, speaks at a rally in Meitar calling for the release of slain hostage Ran Gvili.
Gvili, a member of the Yamam police unit, was killed battling terrorists at Kibbutz Alumim on October 7, 2023, when his remains were then abducted to Gaza.
Simcha Goldin calls on the government not to move forward to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire without first receiving Gvili’s body.
“If we don’t bring home soldiers from the battlefield, then all soldiers can be abandoned on the battlefield,” says Goldin. “It’s not the family’s issue alone; it’s Israel’s issue, and therefore it’s the issue of the leaders of Israel.”
Other members of Gvili’s family and fellow police officers also address the rally. Former hostage Raya Rotem is present, as is Lishay Miran Lavi, whose husband, Omri Miran, was one of the 20 living hostages freed in October.
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