Headlines
Israel to hold funeral for last hostage recovered from Gaza
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 28, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
Quick Summary
Israel buries Ran Gvili, the last hostage from Gaza, marking a healing moment after the October conflict.
Israel Prepares to Bury Last Hostage Recovered from Gaza Conflict
Funeral of the Last Hostage
MEITAR, Israel, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The remains of the last Israeli captive recovered from the Gaza Strip were set to be buried on Wednesday in a funeral that will help Israel turn the page after one of the most tramautising periods in its history.
Background of the Hostage Situation
Ran Gvili, an off-duty police officer, was killed fighting militants during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel. He was then seized and taken back into Gaza by the Islamic Jihad militant group, Israeli officials say.
Details of the Funeral Procession
Gvili was among about 250 people abducted during the attack, which killed around 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and set off the war in Gaza in which Palestinians health authorities say Israel kill more than 71,000 Palestinians.
Impact on Israeli Society
Many of the hostages were released during two short ceasefires, but dozens died in captivity. Under the terms of an October deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, Hamas and other groups agreed to return the remaining hostages, alive or dead, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Gvili, who was the last to be released, will be buried in his hometown of Meitar in southern Israel. His casket will be driven there in a procession beginning in Camp Shura, a facility where Israel has identified victims of the October 2023 attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog were expected to deliver eulogies at the funeral, expected to began at 10:30 a.m. (0830 GMT)
The return of the last hostage and his burial will mark a moment of national healing for Israelis. The Hamas attack, the bloodiest killing of Jews since the Holocaust, was widely seen as the most traumatic event in the country's history.
It also completes a core aspect of the initial phase of Trump's plan to end the war. The second stage, which Washington announced had started earlier this month, includes the reopening of Gaza's Rafah border with Egypt.
(Reporting by Dedi Hayun, Editing by Rami Ayyub and Timothy Heritage)
Key Takeaways
- •Israel prepares to bury the last hostage from the Gaza conflict.
- •Ran Gvili was an off-duty police officer killed in the October attack.
- •The funeral marks a moment of national healing for Israelis.
- •The attack was the bloodiest since the Holocaust for Israel.
- •The event completes a phase of Trump's plan to end the war.
Frequently Asked Questions about Israel to hold funeral for last hostage recovered from Gaza
1What is a funeral procession?
A funeral procession is a group of people accompanying a deceased person's body to its final resting place, typically involving a series of vehicles and mourners.
2What is the impact of war on society?
War can have profound effects on society, including loss of life, psychological trauma, economic hardship, and changes in social structures and norms.
