Protesters gathered across the country Saturday evening to demand the return of the remains of the final slain hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, and to call for a state commission of inquiry to investigate the failures surrounding the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, onslaught.

A rally was held in Meitar, the Gvili family’s home community, at the high school he had attended.

Gvili’s father spoke at the rally, with the parents also issuing a statement criticizing US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has announced an advancement to the second stage of the ceasefire in Gaza and the formation of a Board of Peace and other panels for managing postwar Gaza, even though Hamas was meant to free all the hostages during the first stage.

“As we are here, waiting for his return, a Board of Peace is being built for phase two,” said Ran’s parents, Itzik and Talik. “How can anyone be thinking about phase two? What peace is even being talked about? Peace for those who are refusing to return our son even though they are obligated to do so under the deal, despite the promises from Israel, the mediators and the American president.

“As father and mother, we call on anyone with a hand in this — don’t let it happen. Don’t leave our Rani behind and bury us together with him,” they added.

Calling the Board of Peace formation “very problematic,” they said they feel the Trump administration........

© The Times of Israel