ByIDAN KWELLER

Talik Gvili, mother of deceased hostage Ran Gvili, is expected to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's flight to Florida aboard Wing of Zion in less than two weeks, Walla learned late Thursday night. 

Walla also learned that Shira, Ran Gvili's sister, was invited by Israeli Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, to light the fifth Hanukkah candle at the Consulate General. 

“We do not move on to Phase II without Ran, our modern-day Maccabee," Akunis said at the lighting ceremony.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC, US, September 29, 2025.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC, US, September 29, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST)

Netanyahu, Trump to meet on December 29

Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump will meet on December 29, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed earlier this month.

"They will discuss the future steps and phases, and the International Stabilization Force of the ceasefire plan," Prime Minister's Office spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian clarified during a press conference on December 8.

"We are almost finished with Phase I of the ceasefire plan," Bedrosian cited Netanyahu as saying.

Amichai Stein and James Genn contributed to this report.