Slain hostage Ran Gvili’s mother will accompany Netanyahu on trip to meet Trump

Talik Gvili, mother of the sole remaining deceased hostage Ran Gvili, says in a public statement that she is joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his flight to the US for his December 28 meeting with US President Donald Trump.

“I am flying in order to strengthen the prime minister’s resolve — to assist him and to ensure that there will be no move to implement the next stage [of the Gaza ceasefire agreement] until Hamas fulfills its part and its commitments in this stage of the agreement, and above all its obligation to return Rani home,” says Gvili.

Gvili says she supports the prime minister in his decision not to proceed to the second phase of the agreement before all commitments to Israel are fulfilled. The second phase aims to establish longer-term governance and security structures for Gaza.

She notes that the original agreement referred to 48 hostages, and only 47 were received.

“My Rani is the 48th hostage,” says Gvili. “It is inconceivable that the other side violates agreements and we continue as if nothing happened. There is an agreement. The agreement received the backing of the president of the United States. If we do not insist on the full implementation of the agreement, we may lose Rani forever.”

Ran Gvili, a member of the Yamam police unit, was awaiting scheduled surgery on his shoulder when he fought Hamas terrorists in their October 7, 2023, attack and was killed. His body was then taken hostage to Gaza, where it is reportedly held by Islamic Jihad.

Gvili says in her statement that Hamas knows where his body is held, and she will not accept a situation “in which towers are built and Gaza is rehabilitated while my Rani is abandoned in the field.”

During her statement, Gvili is backed by relatives of former hostages including Iair and Eitan Horn, Ofir Engel, Edan Alexander, and Omer Neutra.

Dalia Cusnir-Horn, sister-in-law of Iair and Eitan Horn, says that her family owes a debt of gratitude to President Trump.

“We saw your vision for a brighter Middle East realized when Eitan and Iair walked free. But the work is not yet complete,” says Cusnir-Horn. “As families gather to celebrate Christmas, Talik is still waiting for her son. Please use all your leverage to ensure that Hamas honors every word of this agreement.”