After 843 days, Jews around the world put down their masking tape, yellow ribbons, and pins: The last Israeli hostage in Gaza was home.

The return of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili’s body on Monday ended an advocacy campaign of more than two years to return the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The campaign galvanized Jews around the world and introduced a visual vocabulary of symbols meant to keep the hostages in the public consciousness and add pressure for Hamas to return them.

Some Jews removed or reduced their hostage displays in October, when all of the living hostages were released. But others said they would not do so until the last hostage was home.

Now, they are shedding their symbols. President Isaac Herzog posted a video of himself removing his hostage pin. The clock in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, counting the days the captives were in Gaza, stopped on Tuesday.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was murdered in captivity, announced that they would not wear the masking tape marking the number of days since October 7, a symbol they popularized.

“In solidarity with all of the families who have had to bury loved ones since October 7th, 2023, we take off our masking tape and pray for comfort…for us all,” they posted on Instagram.

“We are looking forward to tomorrow morning for the first time in 843 days, not having to put masking tape over our hearts.”

Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, parents of the late Hirsch z”l, in a chilling message to the family of Ran as we all mark this........

© The Times of Israel