IDF Reveals How Ran Gvili Hy’d Was Recovered From Gaza In Operation Courageous Heart

The deputy commander of the IDF Rabbinate’s combat unit has revealed new details about Operation Courageous Heart, the mission to recover the body of Ran Gvili Hy’d from the Gaza Strip. Speaking in an interview with Arutz Sheva, the officer, identified as Maj. A., described the complex planning, coordination, and emotional weight behind the operation.

According to Maj. A., preparations for the mission had begun well in advance but were repeatedly delayed due to operational constraints. He said the unit remained on standby for an extended period until “last week they were notified of a window of opportunity to execute the mission.” At that point, soldiers were called in from their homes three days before the operation, issued specialized equipment, and conducted rehearsals using dummies.

Maj. A. explained that multiple specialized units operated under his command during the mission. These included forensic dentists responsible for identification, an explosives ordnance unit tasked with securing the area, terrain experts, an IDF anthropologist, members of the Captives and Missing Persons Unit, and combat soldiers from the Military Rabbinate who carried out the recovery itself.

Describing the operation on the ground, Maj. A. said his unit worked alongside an engineering corps team that excavated the burial site. “We joined an engineering unit that dug in the dirt with the excavators and pulled out the remains. This is very precise work; it demands great concentration by the troops,” he said. He added that navigation and signage teams had first analyzed aerial imagery and marked areas where there was a possibility of locating Ran’s body.

He stressed that despite the use of heavy machinery, the work was conducted with exceptional care. According to Maj. A., this was “the most gentle work done by the heaviest tools.” Prior to the mission, he briefed his soldiers on the sensitivity of the task, and during the operation there was strict coordination between the on-site director and the excavator operator.

The excavation process included carefully arranging what was recovered to allow for an initial forensic examination by dental experts. Maj. A. said the work involved meticulous documentation and marking, ensuring that everything intended to be removed from the grave was successfully retrieved.

Reflecting on the moment the body was found, Maj. A. said the forces had begun work on Sunday afternoon and were prepared to remain in the area for several days. “We were prepared for a few more days. For this, we called up a few more soldiers to allow for the constant execution of the operation, but we found Ran even before the next group of soldiers,” he said. He described a profound sense of pride and closure, calling it “the feeling of coming full circle on a biblical level.”

Maj. A. recalled that before the mission he spoke to his soldiers about the story of Samson, noting how Scripture recounts that Samson’s family recovered his body after his death. “We have the same spirit and the same heritage,” he said.

Asked about the dangers involved, Maj. (Res.) A. said the operation took place in an active combat zone and included risks that could not be detailed. He emphasized the security protection provided by the Alexandroni Brigade, while making clear that the threat level remained high throughout the mission.

Describing the makeup of the Military Rabbinate’s combat unit, Maj. A. said it includes fighters from across the IDF. “These are infantry fighters from all IDF units, religious and secular alike, who are willing to carry out the mission that the people of Israel need,” he said.

Maj. A. also spoke about the sense of historical closure felt by his soldiers following the recovery of Ran Gvili. He recalled that before the war, the unit had operated in Yehudah and Shomron and had held a formation commemorating the Lamed-Heh convoy, whose fallen soldiers were initially left behind until their bodies were brought for burial. “We pledged that we would not leave a fallen soldier behind. As a unit, we swore to bring everyone back,” he said. He noted that the recovery of Ran on the Hebrew date of the 8th of Shevat, close to the anniversary of Lamed-Heh, carried deep symbolic meaning for the unit.

Toward the end of the interview, Maj. A. addressed the findings at the burial site. He said the items recovered matched intelligence assessments, including dental identification and elements of Ran’s uniform. He explained that this information had been obtained through a combination of human intelligence and advanced technological means.