Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 14, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Herzog lights 1st Hanukkah candle with family of last hostage held in Gaza
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, light the first candle of Hanukkah with the family of hostage Ran Gvili, December 14, 2025. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
President Isaac Herzog lights the first candle of Hanukkah with the family of Ran Gvili, the last hostage whose remains are still being held in Gaza.
“Ran is a police officer who fell heroically in battle on October 7. 800 days later, Ran is now the last hostage still being held by murderous terrorists in Gaza,” Herzog says. “We renew our call for Ran to be released immediately and returned home to his dear family for dignified burial!”
Herzog is also joined by freed hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel, Matan Angrest, Shlomi Ziv, Noralin Babadilla, Margalit Mozes, Clara Merman, Moran Stella Yanai, and Gabriella and Mia Lemberg.
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here