Grieving relatives of Ran Gvili gathered on Wednesday as Israel prepared to bury the last hostage returned from Gaza, marking the end of a painful national saga triggered by Hamas's 2023 attack.

A large banner bearing the portrait of Gvili hung behind a low stage in a stadium in the southern town of Meitar, where the 24-year-old police officer had lived and where he will be laid to rest.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.