In boost for Trump’s plan to end Gaza war, Israel retrieves last hostage body
Alexander Cornwell
Jerusalem: Israel has retrieved the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, meeting a key condition of the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war.
In the statement made by the army, it was stated that the remains of police officer Ran Gvili were identified and will be returned for burial.
Gvili’s remains had been held in Gaza since he was killed during a Hamas offensive on October 7, 2023. The Palestinian militant group has launched attacks on southern Israeli communities, triggering a two-year Israeli offensive.
Israel said it would reopen Gaza’s Rafah border gate with Egypt, the region’s main gate to the world, after the search for Gvili’s remains is completed.
A government spokesman had no comment when asked when the border crossing would reopen.
The US-backed committee of Palestinian technocrats to govern Gaza said the border would be opened this week.
The next phase of the deal
Hamas and Israel reached an agreement in October on a ceasefire that meant a complete cessation of fighting and the return of all hostages, living and dead, in exchange for the release of some Palestinians detained in Israel.
Gvili was one of 251 hostages captured by militants and taken to Gaza in the October 7 attack. At the time the agreement was signed, 48 hostages remained in Gaza, 28 of whom were believed to be dead; Gvili was one of them.
Even before Gvili’s body was found, the Trump administration announced that the agreement would move to the next phase, which would include rebuilding Gaza and demilitarizing the area.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Kasim said in a statement that the discovery of Gvili’s remains confirms Hamas’ commitment to the US plan to end the war.
“We will continue to support all aspects of the agreement, including facilitating the work of the national Gaza administration and ensuring its success,” Qasim said, referring to the committee of technocrats.
