By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
INTERNATIONAL
The remains of Ran Gvili have been recovered by the Israeli military and identified by Israel’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine. The 24-year-old member of Israel’s Police Special Forces was killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre and his body was taken to Gaza. He was the last hostage, alive or dead, held by terrorists in Gaza.
Reactions:
–Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “The next stage is not reconstruction [of Gaza], it is the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization.”
-Ran Gvili’s mother, Talik Gvili, commented Ran was “the first to go in, the last to return — our hero.”
—Ted Deutch, American Jewish Committee CEO: “I’m so proud that from the very beginning of the nightmare that Hamas unleashed on October 7, 2023, @AJCGlobal has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the hostage families, facilitating more than 600 meetings with the highest levels of leadership across governments and around the world. And we will remain by their side, and beside all survivors, through the challenging days ahead with strength, hope, and healing.”
—Mickey Gitzin, acting CEO of the New Israel Fund: “Today, while we acknowledge this important milestone, we must also look ahead to the future. Our work must now turn to Israeli military withdrawal, the rebuilding of Gaza, and ultimately, peace and security for all Israelis and Palestinians.”
—Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area – “JCRC’s positions, held since 2023, center the protection of civilian life and uphold human dignity: Hamas cannot retain the capacity to repeat the October 7 attacks, critical humanitarian aid must continue to be provided to Gazans as they begin to rebuild, and Israel must exercise restraint and precision to minimize civilian casualties as Hamas continues to use Gazans as human shields.”
—Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress: “We honor Ran’s bravery and his unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives. Now, the international community must ensure that Hamas is never allowed to regain control of Gaza. The World Jewish Congress stands ready to support Phase Two of President Trump’s plan to end this war and secure lasting peace in the region.”
—Moshe Phillips, chairman of Americans for a Safe Israel: “Even before October 7, polls consistently showed that most Israelis feared a Palestinian state would be used as a springboard to attack Israel, especially at its most vulnerable nine-mile-wide points along the coast. After October 7, the idea of a Palestinian state seems to most Israelis to constitute a direct threat to Israel’s existence. The best way to make sure Israeli families do not suffer for 843 days the way the Gvili family has is to prevent a Palestinian state.”
—Simon Wiesenthal Center – “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.”
—Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America: “After more than two years, our thoughts and prayers are with Ran’s family, who can now lay him to rest with the respect and dignity he deserves. We stand with Israelis and are incredibly relieved that the promise of #BringThemHome has finally been fulfilled.”
–StandWithUs:
StandWithUs: “Our hearts are both broken and full. After 843 agonizing days of captivity, Ran Gvili, the last Hamas hostage taken on October 7, 2023, has finally been brought home to Israel. As of January 26, 2026, there are no longer any Israelis being held or tortured in Gaza. Ran’s return, after his remains were located in the Al-Barsh cemetery in Gaza, gives his family what every family deserves: certainty, dignity, and a place to mourn.”
—United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism: “Jewish tradition includes the mitzvah of kevod hameit – that honoring the dead and bringing them to burial is a holy obligation—an affirmation of human dignity even in the face of unbearable loss. It also commands us not to turn away from those held in captivity and not to abandon hope, even when the outcome is heartbreaking. In fulfilling this responsibility, we honor both the sanctity of life and the dignity of memory.”
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Israel’s President Isaac Herzog was a featured speaker in Jerusalem at a celebration marking his nation’s 2,000th kidney transplant. Nearly 2,000 kidney donors attended a Matanat Chaim (Gift of Life) assembly, the largest-ever gathering of kidney donors and a Guinness World Record. According to eJewishPhilanthropy, Herzog enthused: “This is absolutely a world record. A world record for humanity. A world record for solidarity. And a world record for the deep and full commitment to one another, the selflessness, the deep love of life and of people, that is so beautifully embodied in our nation.”
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NATIONAL
In the wake of federal agents killing ICU nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and President Donald Trump conferred by telephone Monday in what the President described as a “very good” conversation. Frey will meet Tuesday with border czar Tom Homan “to continue the discussion,” Trump said. Frey reported the conversation on X, saying,“I expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end.” In another development, Greg Bovino, the Border Patrol’s chief, was ordered out of Minneapolis and his access to government cell phones restricted.
In Congress, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said on Saturday that he and fellow Democratic senators will block the budget appropriation for the Department of Homeland Security. He said in a written statement “What’s happening in Minnesota is appalling and unacceptable in any American city. Democrats sought common sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans’ refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE. I will vote no. Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.”
Brian Romick, President and CEO of Democratic Majority for Israel, issued this statement: “ICE’s tactics of operating with impunity and terrorizing communities must stop. The senseless deaths of Alex Pretti and Renée Good are tragic and a betrayal of our values and the rule of law. Two lives have been lost in Minneapolis in the span of weeks, and the public deserves transparency, accountability, and an immediate end to the aggressive tactics that put communities in fear and escalate violence.”
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STATE & LOCAL
The San Diego City Council’s Rules Committee on Wednesday will consider a proposal by Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera to place an annual $8,000 tax on residential properties that are used for short-term rentals or are kept vacant. Both reduce the availability of homes at a time when there is a housing crisis. Elo-Rivera commented to the Times of San Diego: “What we’re trying to do is disincentivize homes from being used as mini-hotels instead of houses and disincentivize homes from sitting empty instead of being a place where families can grow up.” Chris Cate, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, opposes the measure: “This proposal does nothing to realistically address housing costs for San Diegans. It doesn’t create a single new housing unit, and there is no requirement that the money collected be used for housing at all.”
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Jewish day schoolteachers in San Diego County are invited by Nefesh B’ Nefesh to apply for the inaugural Zionist Education Initiative fellowship, which convenes in Israel next July 6-10. Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, cofounder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, said: “The ZEI Fellowship is a transformative step toward reshaping Israel education across North America and a central pillar of Nefesh B’Nefesh’s mission. “We are deeply excited about this fellowship and honored to help shape the next generation of Zionist educators and leaders. Through the program, we aim to provide a serious and compelling education rooted in truth, history, and meaning.” The selective fellowship is open to North American Jewish high school educators teaching Israel, Zionism, Jewish history, Tanach, or related subjects. It begins with an immersive summer intensive in Israel this July, followed by a year-long cohort experience that includes guided study, individualized coaching, collaborative learning, and ongoing professional development, expertly led by Kadima Coaching, the premiere professional development organization in the Jewish day school world. Fellows emerge with enhanced content mastery, innovative teaching strategies, and the confidence to lead nuanced, intellectually honest conversations about Israel in their classrooms. For more information, contact Noam Mirvis.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World