Israel recovers final hostage remains, paving way for Rafah crossing reopening

Israel has recovered the remains of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in the Palestinian territory.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the recovery in a post on his Truth Social platform, calling it an “amazing job” and saying all living and deceased hostages had now been returned.

“Just recovered the last hostage body in Gaza. Thus, got back all 20 of the living hostages, and all of the dead,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “Most thought of it as an impossible thing to do.”

“With this, all hostages have been returned from the Gaza Strip,” the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said, adding that Gvili’s body would be brought back to Israel for burial.

Gvili, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer, had been held in Gaza for more than 840 days. He was killed while fighting Hamas militants during the 7 October attack, despite being off duty and recovering from an injury at the time.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recovery as “an unbelievable achievement for the State of Israel,” adding, “Rani is a hero of Israel, who went in first and emerged last.”

Rafah crossing expected to reopen

The recovery of Gvili’s remains removes a key obstacle to reopening the Rafah Crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world. Israeli officials had previously insisted the crossing would remain closed until the final hostage was returned.

Netanyahu’s office later confirmed that Israel would reopen Rafah, which has been largely closed since May 2024.

A U.S.-backed Palestinian committee of technocrats expected to administer Gaza said the crossing is likely to open this week, though Israeli officials did not provide a specific timeline.

• Israel to reopen Gaza’s Rafah crossing only after hostage operation
• U.S. launches phase two of Gaza plan, urges Hamas compliance

Next phase of deal

Gvili was among 251 hostages seized during the October 7 attack, which killed about 1,200 people and triggered a two-year Israeli offensive in Gaza. At the time a ceasefire was agreed in October, 48 hostages remained in Gaza, 28 of them believed dead.

The return of all remaining hostages, both living and deceased, was a core commitment of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, though other elements have yet to be implemented.

The next phase of the 20-point ceasefire plan is expected to include the establishment of an international stabilisation force, the formation of a technocratic Palestinian government, and the disarmament of Hamas.

In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the discovery of Gvili’s remains confirmed the group’s commitment to the agreement.

“We will continue to uphold all aspects of the agreement, including facilitating the work of the national Gaza administration and ensuring its success,” Qassem said.

Background and disputed claims

Israel had repeatedly accused Hamas of delaying the recovery of the final hostage, while Hamas maintained that it had provided all available information and accused Israel of obstructing searches in areas under its control. The IDF said the search took place in the area near the “Yellow Line” that divides Gaza.

• U.S. launches phase two of Gaza plan, urges Hamas compliance
• Israel to reopen Gaza’s Rafah crossing only after hostage operation

Since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October, 2025, Israel has received 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others. In exchange, it has returned the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians to Gaza.

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Politics Gaza Israel Hostage ran gvili Gaza Ceasefire Hamas United States Benjamin Netanyahu IDF Rafah