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Ran’s sister, Shira, asked that Phase 2 of the US-brokered hostage-ceasefire deal not be implemented until the return of her brother’s remains.<\/p>\n
Demonstrators gathered at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv in a collective call for the return of Ran Gvili<\/a>, the only hostage whose remains are still held in the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n “This is the first Shabbat<\/a> that Rani has remained alone there,” said the slain hostage’s sister, Shira. “I ask again to reiterate the demand not to proceed to Phase 2 until Rani is home. To compel Hamas to return Rani to the country he loved so much. Continue to stand with us, think of my Rani. 254 hostages have been returned from Gaza, and our Rani is still there.<\/p>\n “Rani is the last hostage remaining in Gaza, but he is the first. He’s always been first. First to help, first to assist, first to save. Rani is the first to put on the blue uniform and run straight into hell,” she added. “We’ve done everything we could over these two years. Gone to countless meetings, given interviews, shouted, asked, pleaded, and prayed. Our faith in you, in our people, in the army, in the police, in good people, alongside faith itself, keeps us above water. Faith gives us air to breathe.”<\/p>\n Also in attendance at Friday’s rally were Ziv and Keren Zioni, the uncle and aunt of Ran Gvili.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, the Gvili family had called for weekly rallies<\/a> demanding his return to be moved from Saturdays to Fridays, ahead of Shabbat services at Hostage Square, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.<\/p>\n