Israeli Military Retrieves Body of Last Remaining Gaza Hostage
The recovery of Master Sgt Ran Gvili's remains facilitates the potential reopening of Gaza's border crossing with Egypt and the progression to the second phase of a U.S. peace plan, which involves the reconstruction and demilitarization of Gaza.
Retrieval Details
On [date not specified in sources, but after initial ceasefire], the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the retrieval of the body of Master Sgt Ran Gvili, a Yamam commando fighter. The IDF stated that Sgt Gvili died in battle on October 7, 2023, and his body was subsequently transported to the Gaza Strip. The search for Sgt Gvili had been ongoing since the initial ceasefire with Hamas began in October. With this retrieval, the IDF stated that all hostages from the Gaza Strip area have been accounted for.
Statements and Reactions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to Gvili's return as an "extraordinary achievement."
"We promised - and I promised - to bring everyone back. We brought them all back, down to the very last captive."
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem commented that the discovery "confirms Hamas's commitment to all the requirements of the ceasefire agreement." The IDF also conveyed a commitment to supporting families and returned hostages, and strengthening Israel's security.
Implications for Peace Plan and Border Crossing
The recovery of Sgt Gvili's remains is expected to facilitate the reopening of Gaza's key border crossing with Egypt, an action Israel had indicated would occur after the operation was complete. This development also clears the way for Israel and Hamas to proceed with the second phase of a peace plan initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump. This phase involves the reconstruction and demilitarization of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups. Israel had previously delayed advancing to this phase pending Gvili's recovery.
Conflict Context
On October 7, 2023, a Hamas-led attack on Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities. Approximately 251 hostages were taken into the Gaza Strip during this event.
Over an unspecified two-year period, the majority of these hostages were released, most of them alive, in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. During initial phases of a ceasefire, 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 27 deceased Israeli and foreign hostages were returned. Hamas had previously stated it had not yet located Sgt Gvili. The subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza has resulted in 71,660 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.