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Hostages and Missing Families Forum

An FBI poster showing a composite image of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, right, of how he would look like now after five years in captivity, and an image, center, taken from the video, released by his kidnappers, and a picture before he was kidnapped, left, displayed during a news conference in Washington, March 6, 2012. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)
April 18, 2026, 6:53 am
Jewish groups urge Trump, during Iran ceasefire talks, to prioritize Americans held there
US branch of group that advocated for release of Hamas hostages signs onto initiative; Robert Levinson, American Jew who died in Iranian jail, among those considered wrongfully detained
By Grace Gilson
Government hostage point man Gal Hirsch attends the funeral of Staff Sgt. Daniel Oz at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba, November 6, 2025. (Tal Gal/ Flash90)
April 6, 2026, 8:51 pm
Ex-captives slam choice of hostage point man Gal Hirsch to light Independence Day torch
Calling the pick ‘a slap in the face,’ former hostages and their families lash out at Hirsch, who they demanded resign in February for saying the hostage protests benefited Hamas
By Jessica Steinberg and ToI Staff
Government hostage point man Gal Hirsch speaks to The Times of Israel from his Bnei Brak headquarters, January 30, 2026. (Prime Minister's Office)
February 1, 2026, 4:34 pm
PM’s hostage czar Gal Hirsch says Biden pressure ‘screwed up’ deal talks, protests aided Hamas
Netanyahu ally who headed up effort tells Times of Israel that Sinwar wanted to stretch talks out for 10 years — and killing him was key to finally clinching the agreement that brought everyone home
By Lazar Berman
Attendees at the Kabbalat Shabbat service at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square on January 30, 2026. (Ben Sales/The Times of Israel)
January 30, 2026, 8:20 pm
‘We kept our promise’: Final Shabbat service held at Hostages Square
After return of body of last hostage Ran Gvili, former captive Omri Miran tells crowd of hundreds that ‘to rise up and rehabilitate, we need to be together’
By Ben Sales
The clock in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv stops counting on January 27, 2026, after the return of final hostage Ran Gvili. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
January 27, 2026, 10:03 pm
After 843 days, 12 hours, 6 minutes, Hostages Square clock goes dark with Ran Gvili’s return
Emotional Tel Aviv ceremony, heavy with symbolism, commemorates end of digital count-up marking hostages’ time in Gaza after return of final captive’s body
By Stav Levaton
The body of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili (right) is seen after being located by Israeli troops at a cemetery in eastern Gaza City, January 26. 2026. (Courtesy)
January 26, 2026, 7:13 pm
All of them are home now: Body of last hostage Ran Gvili found in Gaza, returned to Israel
In historic moment for country, policeman killed fighting Hamas invaders on October 7, 2023, is returned for burial after 843 days. Hostage forum hails him as ‘first to go in, last to return’
By Emanuel Fabian, Jessica Steinberg, Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
Talik Gvili, mother of the deceased hostage in Gaza, Ran Gvili, December 10, 2025. Ran Gvili's body was located by the IDF and returned to Israel on January 26, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)
January 26, 2026, 3:05 pm
Speaking days before his body was found, Ran Gvili’s mother said she trusts Israel to bring him home
Talik Gvili believes the US and Israeli governments are doing all they can to secure release of Ran’s body before Gaza ceasefire moves into second phase
By Jessica Steinberg
Families of hostages and slain soldiers from the Tikva Forum hold a press conference at the Knesset on January 13, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 6, 2026, 1:15 pm
Knesset event fetes hostage families who supported government’s war policy
Tikva and Gvura forums, which opposed early deals with Hamas, lauded as having ‘raised nation’s spirit,’ in contrast to those who protested against government
By ToI Staff
Protesters at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2025, rally to demand the return of the bodies of 18 slain hostages still held in Gaza.(Paulina Patimer / Hostages Families Forum)
December 31, 2025, 11:52 pm
Hostages Forum announces closure, says ‘struggle not over’ while Ran Gvili still in Gaza
Organization representing most families of Hamas captives to ‘end activities in its current form,’ with select group to continue accompanying relatives of last slain hostage
By Agencies and ToI Staff
People attend a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government at Habima Square in Tel Aviv on December 13, 2025. One man hoists a photo of Ran Gvili, the last hostage whose body is held by terror groups in Gaza, which purport not to know where it is. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
December 13, 2025, 11:19 pm
‘No pardon for Oct. 7’: Protesters in Tel Aviv blast PM, call for return of Ran Gvili
Some 1,500 demonstrators, including freed hostages and bereaved parents, pan Netanyahu’s government, demanding elections and state probe into failures surrounding Hamas attack
By Noam Lehmann
Itzik Gvili speaks at an event for his son Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, on December 12, 2025. (Paulina Patimer/The Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
December 12, 2025, 5:29 pm
Father of last hostage Ran Gvili: ‘Hard for me to accept condolences until I see his body’
‘He didn’t think twice, he went and fought,’ says Itzik Gvili as family holds Kabbalat Shabbat gathering in Hostages Square; father of Itay Chen calls for state commission of inquiry
By Jessica Steinberg
Shira Gvili, sister of Ran Gvili, whose body is still held hostage in Gaza, speaks at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on December 5, 2025. (Lior Rotstein/ Hostages Forum/ File)
December 6, 2025, 12:54 pm
Major Saturday night events transition from hostage rallies to anti-government protests
At Friday evening event to welcome Shabbat, family of last remaining hostage Ran Gvili demands that Israel refuse to move to ‘phase two’ of Trump’s Gaza deal until he is returned
By Jessica Steinberg and ToI Staff
Itzik and Talik Gvili, parents of deceased hostage Ran Gvili, on November 22, 2025, at a Hostages Forum rally. (Paulina Patimer/Hostages Forum)
December 1, 2025, 10:13 pm
Weekly hostage support rallies in Tel Aviv to end, family of slain captive says
Ran Gvili’s family announces Friday afternoon ‘Kabbalat Shabbat’ events instead, as it ‘adjusts to new reality’ of only 2 captives still in Gaza, and thinning resources
By Jessica Steinberg and ToI Staff
Majid al-Ansari, spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, speaks onstage during Global Citizen NOW: Impact Sessions on September 24, 2025, in New York City. (ROB KIM / Getty Images via AFP)
November 30, 2025, 2:28 pm
Qatar says Hamas failure to return last two slain hostages can’t ‘obstruct’ Gaza plan
Hostages’ forum slams remarks by spokesman for Qatari Foreign Ministry, says ‘the return of the hostages is the core’ of agreement formulated by Trump for a postwar Strip
By ToI Staff
Itzik Gvili, the father of slain hostage Ran Gvili, speaks at Hostages Square, in Tel Aviv, on November 29, 2025. (Uriel Even Sapir/The Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
November 30, 2025, 2:20 am
Father of last Israeli hostage in Gaza: Truce mustn’t advance until final 2 bodies returned
At what may be final weekly rally, thousands gather to demand return of Ran Gvili, Sudthisak Rinthalak; relatives denounce government Oct. 7 probe, demand independent state inquiry
By Noam Lehmann and ToI Staff
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