Israel has recovered the remains of Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, paving the way for a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The military statement confirmed that the remains had been identified and would be returned for burial.
This achievement fulfills a key condition of the initial phase of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in the Palestinian territory. Gvili was held captive in Gaza for more than 840 days until his death during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israeli communities.
The recovery of Gvili’s remains could open Rafah Crossing, a crucial gateway for Palestinians to access the outside world, consistent with Israeli commitments. Palestinian technocratic officials backed by the United States have announced that the border would be reopened this week.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the discovery as “an unbelievable achievement” and described Rani Gvili as a hero who fought bravely during the attack. The return of the hostages’ remains has been viewed as a moment of national healing in Israel, symbolized by yellow ribbons, posters with hostage faces, and weekly demonstrations at Hostages Square.
The Trump administration announced that the US-led plan to end the war would move on to its next phase, which includes reconstruction efforts for Gaza. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that they would uphold all aspects of the agreement, including facilitating the work of a committee of technocrats in Gaza.
While the initial phase’s commitments have been met with the return of living and dead hostages, other parts remain contentious and are subject to significant disagreements. Israeli officials requested restrictions on Palestinian access through Rafah Crossing while screening Palestinians entering from Gaza at a nearby military checkpoint.