Israel's military has retrieved the remains of Master Sgt Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage from Gaza. The development completes the return of all hostages from the Gaza Strip area and clears the way for Israel and Hamas to advance to the second phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan.
Gvili, a 24-year-old Yamam commando fighter, fell in battle on the morning of October 7, 2023. His body was abducted to the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces stated: «According to the information and intelligence available to us, Sgt Maj (res) Ran Gvili... a Yamam commando fighter, aged 24 at the time of his death, fell in battle on the morning of October 7, 2023, and his body was abducted to the Gaza Strip.»
The Israeli military launched a large-scale operation on Sunday to locate Gvili's body. Hamas had previously stated it had not been able to locate him for several weeks. Israel had resisted moving forward with the peace plan until Gvili was found.
Ceasefire terms and returns
The ceasefire began in October. Under its terms, Hamas was meant to return all hostages within 72 hours of the ceasefire taking effect. In total, 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 27 dead Israeli and foreign hostages were handed over.
In exchange for the hostages, 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza were released.
Reactions from leaders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the return «an extraordinary achievement». He stated: «We promised - and I promised - to bring everyone back. We brought them all back, down to the very last captive.»
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the discovery of the body «confirms Hamas's commitment to all the requirements of the ceasefire agreement».
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed: «With this, all of the hostages from the Gaza Strip area have been returned.» The IDF expressed grief for Gvili's family and affirmed its commitment to supporting families and returned hostages.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters described Gvili as a «true friend, loved by everyone» who carried a «powerful yet calm presence».
What comes next
Israel said on Sunday it would reopen Gaza's key border crossing with Egypt once the operation to find and return Gvili was complete. The Rafah crossing is expected to reopen this week, staffed by the Palestinian Authority and monitored by EU personnel.
Phase two of Trump's peace plan is intended to involve the reconstruction and full demilitarization of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups. The second phase anticipates Israel's further troop withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas relinquishing administrative control of the territory.
October 7 attack and casualties
Some 251 hostages were taken in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed in that attack. Most hostages were released alive over the course of the next two years.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the attack. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 71,660 Palestinians were killed during the Gaza campaign.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
