JERUSALEM — Israel’s military announced Monday that it has recovered and identified the remains of the final hostage held in Gaza, a development that clears a major hurdle in advancing to the next phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and reopening talks on Gaza’s future governance and the group’s disarmament.
The remains were confirmed to be those of police officer Ran Gvili, who was killed during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the nearly four-year conflict. Gvili was among the first individuals taken into Gaza during the assault, according to Israeli officials.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the recovery as “an incredible achievement,” telling Israeli media, “I promised we would bring everyone home and we have brought everyone home.” His office said the military had conducted a large-scale operation in a cemetery in northern Gaza to locate the remains.
Gvili’s family had urged the government not to proceed to the ceasefire’s second phase until his remains were recovered and returned. Hamas said Monday it remains committed to all terms of the truce’s first phase.
Netanyahu’s office said Sunday that Israel would move to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt once the search operation concluded. The crossing, widely viewed by Palestinians as a vital link to the outside world, has been largely closed since May 2024, with only a brief reopening in early 2025.
Residents in Gaza expressed hope that the recovery would lead to greater freedom of movement and expanded humanitarian access.
“We hope this will close off Israel’s pretexts and open the crossing,” said Abdel-Rahman Radwan, a Gaza City resident whose mother requires cancer treatment outside the enclave.
In the Nuseirat refugee camp, Ahmed Ruqab, who lives in a tent with his family of six, called on mediators and the United States to pressure Israel to allow more aid and housing caravans into Gaza. “We need to turn this page and restart,” he said by phone.
The U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, and mediators, including Washington, have urged both sides to transition into a second phase. That stage is expected to address more contentious issues, including establishing a new governance framework for Gaza and disarming Hamas, which has ruled the territory for nearly two decades.
Israel had accused Hamas of delaying the recovery of the final hostage, while Hamas said it had provided all available information and blamed Israel for blocking access to areas under Israeli military control. The military said its search focused on an area near the so-called “Yellow Line” dividing parts of the territory.
Before Gvili’s remains were recovered, Israel said 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others had been returned since the ceasefire began, most recently in early December. In exchange, Israel released the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians to Gaza.
Despite the truce, deadly incidents were reported Monday. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City said Israeli forces fatally shot a man in the Tuffah neighborhood near the search area. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported another man killed in eastern Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, though details were unclear.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 71,400 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, including over 480 since the latest ceasefire began. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains casualty records that U.N. agencies and independent experts generally consider reliable.
Separately, the Foreign Press Association (FPA) petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday to allow journalists to enter Gaza independently. The FPA, representing dozens of international news organizations, has sought broader access for more than two years, arguing that tightly controlled military-escorted visits are no substitute for independent reporting. The court is expected to rule in the coming days.
As negotiations move toward the next phase, residents and international observers alike are watching closely to see whether the recovery of the final hostage’s remains will translate into tangible improvements in humanitarian access, security, and prospects for a lasting settlement.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
