Israel’s military announced on Monday that it has successfully retrieved the remains of the final hostage held in Gaza, meeting a crucial requirement of President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the conflict in the Palestinian region. The recovered remains belong to police officer Ran Gvili, who had been held in Gaza for over 840 days and will now be repatriated for burial, according to the military’s statement.
This development is expected to facilitate the potential reopening of the Rafah Crossing connecting Gaza to Egypt, which serves as the enclave’s primary link to the outside world, aligning with commitments made by Israel. The Palestinian technocrats supported by the United States overseeing Gaza have indicated that the border crossing is set to resume operations this week, although no specific timeline has been confirmed by government officials.
Gvili had been held captive in Gaza since his death during the Hamas-led assault on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, triggering a two-year Israeli military campaign. Israeli news broadcasts showed soldiers gathered at the site in Gaza where the body was found, singing a Hebrew song of hope and faith.
Images from Gaza depicted what seemed to be a casket draped in the Israeli flag, surrounded by soldiers, while Gvili’s mother, Talik, hailed her son as a hero in social media posts. Gvili, who was off duty due to an injury at the time of the attack, lost his life while engaging with the militants.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the recovery of Gvili’s remains as a significant achievement for the nation, praising him as a heroic figure. Gvili was among the 251 hostages taken to Gaza by militants during the 2023 attack, resulting in 1,200 fatalities as per Israeli records. The subsequent Israeli offensive claimed the lives of over 71,400 Palestinians, with more than 480 Palestinians dying at the hands of Israeli forces since October 10, 2025, according to Palestinian sources.
The ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in October 2025 stipulated the release of all remaining hostages, living and deceased, as a fundamental part of the initial phase of the deal. The return of Gvili’s body has been anticipated in Israel as a moment of national reconciliation, following the traumatic events of the Hamas attack.
Hamas has affirmed its commitment to the plan following the discovery of Gvili’s remains, emphasizing its cooperation in ensuring the success of the national administration in Gaza. The organization credited its information for aiding in locating Gvili’s body.
The planned reopening of Gaza’s border with Egypt, a key component of Trump’s peace plan, faced delays due to Israeli demands for the return of the final hostage’s remains. Israel sought to regulate the flow of Palestinians through the border crossing, proposing stringent screening measures to be conducted at an adjacent Israeli military checkpoint, as reported by Reuters.
This latest development marks a significant step towards resolving the longstanding conflict in Gaza and advancing the peace process in the region.