Jerusalem Post columnist says no hostages remain in Gaza

In Israel, the upcoming Sukkot will be celebrated for the first time since October 7, 2023, without hostages remaining in the Gaza Strip, writes Jerusalem Post author Michael Freund. According to him, the last hostage—alive or dead—whose remains were in Gaza was 24-year-old police officer Ran Gvili.

Return of the last hostages

According to Freund, last year Sukkot began while Hamas was holding 20 living hostages. Their photographs were placed on the walls of sukkahs, while empty chairs became a symbol of people who could not spend the holiday with their families.

The columnist writes that on October 13, 2025, the day of Hoshana Rabbah, all 20 living hostages were released and returned to Israel. At the same time, the bodies of several killed hostages remained in Gaza.

According to Freund, the remains of Ran Gvili, who was killed on October 7, 2023, while fighting attackers, were found and returned to Israel in January 2026. He calls Gvili the last hostage, alive or dead, who remained in Gaza. After 843 days, the countdown clock at Hostages Square was stopped.

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Threats to Israel

Freund notes that the agreement that, according to him, secured the release of the remaining hostages and ended the large-scale war left Hamas in Gaza. He writes that the group pledged to disarm but did not do so.

The columnist also cites US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who said that Hamas had handed over neither weapons nor ammunition. In addition, Freund refers to reports warning from senior Israel Defense Forces officials: according to these reports, Hamas is allegedly recruiting new fighters aged 18 to 22, manufacturing explosive devices and anti-tank weapons, and resuming the training of members of the Nukhba unit.

The column emphasizes that Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, in the author's view, continue to pose a threat to Israel. At the same time, Freund considers the return of all hostages a reason to celebrate Sukkot despite unresolved security issues.