LOS ANGELES (January 26, 2026) — The recovery of Ran Gvili’s body marks the end of one of the darkest chapters in our history, opened by Hamas’s October 7 massacre, the holding of Israeli hostages in Gaza. That chapter may now be closed, but accountability must begin in earnest.
Ran Gvili was a 24-year-old police officer who ran toward danger while still recovering from injury, helping to save lives as Hamas terrorists attacked Israeli communities. He was murdered on October 7, and his body was held by terrorists for months. His courage and the cruelty inflicted upon him stand as a moral indictment of those responsible.
For the first time since 2014, no hostages remain in Gaza. That fact should not invite amnesia or moral fatigue. The absence of hostages does not erase the crimes committed, the mass murder of civilians, the targeting of first responders, and the use of human beings as bargaining chips.
Hamas’s actions were war crimes and crimes against humanity. Those responsible, from the perpetrators to the commanders and enablers, must be identified, isolated, and held accountable under international law.
We honor Ran Gvili’s bravery and mourn with his family. May his memory forever be a blessing. Justice for him, and for all victims of October 7, is not optional; it is a moral obligation. In keeping with its longstanding tradition of remembrance, the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles will be illuminated in blue tonight at 5:18 PM PST to honor the memory of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the 1,200 lives lost, and the more than 240 hostages abducted on October 7, 2023.
About the Simon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) is a global Jewish human rights organization that combats antisemitism, defends the State of Israel, and uses the lessons of the Holocaust to teach tolerance and combat hate. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO). Headquartered in Los Angeles, the SWC operates in key centers of Jewish life including New York, Chicago, Florida, Toronto, Jerusalem, Vienna and Buenos Aires. To learn more, visit www.wiesenthal.org.