From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 25, 2025
Weekend rallies planned for Ran Gvili, the last hostage still in Gaza
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
A series of protests and rallies will be held tomorrow and Saturday across the country, calling for the return of slain police officer Ran Gvili, the final hostage remaining in Gaza.
Gvili, a member of the Yamam police unit, was awaiting scheduled surgery on his shoulder when he went to fight Hamas terrorists who attacked on October 7, 2023. He was killed and his body was taken hostage to Gaza, where it is reportedly held by Islamic Jihad.
Tomorrow morning, the family of Hadar Goldin, a fallen soldier who was abducted and returned to Israel for burial after more than 11 years, will gather in Gvili’s name, at the 400th and final Friday gathering at the Black Arrow Memorial in the south.
The Gvili family will join the Kibbutz Movement and Ramot Menashe community, as well as other hostages’ family members for a Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony tomorrow afternoon at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.
Several rallies will be held Saturday evening, including in the Gvilis’ hometown Meitar, at the Sha’ar Hanegev intersection in the Gaza envelope region, and in Carmei Gat, the temporary home of the Kibbutz Nir Oz community.
Speakers at the various gatherings will include Gvili family members, former hostages’ loved ones and other community leaders.
Alongside the Saturday night rallies, support demonstrations and silent vigils will take place throughout the weekend at numerous locations across the country.
The Times of Israel Community.