Mivtza Tefillin at Levaya of Last Hostage
Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili HY”D, a 24-year-old YAMAM fighter who fell in battle on Simchas Torah in the area of Kibbutz Alumim, was laid to rest on Wednesday at the Beis HaChayim in the community of Meitar, with the participation of a large crowd • Read More, Photos
Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili HY”D, a 24-year-old YAMAM fighter who fell in battle on Simchas Torah in the area of Kibbutz Alumim, was laid to rest on Wednesday at the Beis HaChayim in the community of Meitar, with the participation of a large crowd.
Among those in attendance were President Yitzchak Herzog, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, government ministers, members of Knesset, and senior commanders of the Israel Police.
At the entrance to the Beis HaChayim, Chabad Chassidim established a Tefillin stand, where many Jews merited to put on Tefillin in memory of the fallen hero.
During the hespedim, Ran’s father, Itzik Gvili, said with emotion:
“Your story is known by all of Am Yisrael. The entire world knows it. Everyone embraces you. You are the child of the entire nation. I am so proud to be your father.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke of the moment Ran’s body was identified:
“Yesterday I watched our soldiers and commanders, filled with mission and faith inside Gaza as we completed the national task. When Rani was identified, our soldiers burst into powerful song. They sang with full hearts, and it shook me deeply. If we had not believed — we would not have found him. If we had not believed — we would not have acted. And had we not found him, the wounds would have remained open forever. But we believed, we acted, and we brought Rani home — after 843 days.”
He added that Ran saved many lives despite being shot twice, defended Kibbutz Alumim with extraordinary heroism, and eliminated 14 terrorists. “His battle until the very last bullet will be remembered for generations,” Netanyahu said, announcing plans for a new settlement in the Negev to be named Rananim in his memory.
Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also spoke, describing his mesirus nefesh and inner strength.
“Not everyone knows the daily self-sacrifice, the responsibility, the dedication, the professionalism — and above all, the enormous heart that Rani carried, learned from his family and ancestors.”
The funeral procession departed earlier in the day from Camp Shura, where a final military honor ceremony was held by the Military Rabbinate and Israel Police. Ran’s father recited Kaddish as the aron was escorted along Route 431, the Nesherim Interchange, and Route 60 toward Meitar.
The central hespedim took place at a nearby sports field, followed by the kevurah at the local Beis HaChayim.
May it be Hashem’s will that the promise be fulfilled immediately — “Hakitzu VeRanenu Shochnei Afar” — and he among them.
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