Israel Recovers Remains of Last Captive Held in Gaza, Paving Way for Next Ceasefire Phase
Telaviv — The Israeli military has announced that the remains of Ran Gvili , the last Israeli captive held in the Gaza Strip, have been recovered, marking the completion of Hamas’s obligations under the first phase of a ceasefire agreement reached in October. Army spokesman Avichay Adraee said the identification process had been completed by Isr
ael’s National Centre of Forensic Medicine, in coordination with police and military authorities, and that Gvili’s family had been informed. “Thus, all the hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been repatriated,” he said. Gvili, an Israeli police officer, is believed to have been killed during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks . His return fulfils Hamas’s commitment under the ceasefire deal to return all 251 captives , dead or alive. Following the announcement, Hamas said the handover demonstrated its commitment to the agreement and insisted that Israel must now fully implement all remaining provisions without delay. These include opening the Rafah crossing in both directions, allowing unrestricted aid deliveries, completing Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and facilitating governance arrangements inside the territory. Later on Monday, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza said it had received nine Palestinian detainees released by Israel via the Red Cross as part of the ceasefire framework. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the recovery of the final captive, calling it an “extraordinary achievement for the State of Israel.” Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary said the development marked a significant moment for Palestinians, raising expectations for changes on the ground, including the opening of Rafah, the entry of reconstruction materials and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from restricted zones. She noted that many commitments from the first phase of the ceasefire, including the entry of 600 aid trucks per day, had not yet been met. Israel has previously said the Rafah crossing would open only after the return of the last captive, though it has indicated this would initially be on a limited basis for people rather than goods. The development comes as the second phase of the ceasefire gets under way. US special envoy Steve Witkoff said earlier this month that the next stage would focus on post-war governance in Gaza, Hamas’s demilitarisation and the reconstruction of the enclave.