Parents of slain Israeli hostage still held in Gaza urge Netanyahu to stall next phase of cease-fire

The parents of Ran Gvili, one of the two remaining slain hostages still held in Gaza, urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stall the next phase of the US-brokered peace deal with Hamas — until their son’s body is brought home.

“The prime minister promised to return Ran to us,” said his mother, Talik Gvili, after the Friday meeting with Netanyahu, Times of Israel reported on Saturday.

“I asked the prime minister not to move to phase two until Rani returns.”

Itzik Gvili, Ran’s father, echoed that sentiment Saturday night, telling an emotional crowd gathered at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square that he’s calling on mediators to make clear “there is no ‘next phase’ and there is no ‘day after in Gaza’ until the remaining hostages are returned.”

Under the historic peace plan’s second phase, Israeli troops would retreat further from the so-called “yellow line” as a transitional authority takes over governing Gaza and a multinational security force steps in to assume the military’s role.

“Hamas says they’re searching, but we’re not seeing progress,” continued Itzik Givili about his son’s whereabouts. “They’re playing games and toying with us, and this must stop now.

“We want to get off this rollercoaster.”

Master Sgt. Ran Gvili was sent out to fight the Hamas invasion with other police officers on Oct. 7, 2023, before being captured, according to his father.

Hundreds demonstrated at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday night — the centerpiece of weekly gatherings throughout the war in Gaza — in what could be the final hostage rally.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which has organized them each weekend, said it is narrowing its focus to supporting the remaining hostage families.

Only two dead hostages, Ran Gvili and Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai worker living in Israel, remain somewhere inside of Gaza.

The other 46 Israeli hostages — 20 still living and 26 dead — were returned to Israel following its cease-fire with Hamas on Oct. 10.