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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washingto...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi have discussed arrangements to ensure the safe passage of shi...
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury. ...
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washington had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi have discussed arrangements to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury.
Israel's decision to recognise the so-called Armenian genocide has triggered diplomatic tensions with Azerbaijan, one of its closest strategic partners.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
Dozens of flights have been cancelled across East Asia as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches China. The typhoon, which has maximum sustained winds of 162 kph (100mph), is nearing a remote chain of Japanese islands, east of Taiwan on Friday.
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
British police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former government minister whose death was announced on Friday.
This is the last of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
At least 44 people have died and more than one million have been stranded due to widespread flooding and landslides across southeastern Bangladesh, authorities said on Saturday (11 July).
Turkish prosecutors have ordered the detention of 36 people, including the mayor of an Ankara district controlled by the main opposition, over alleged bribery and tender-rigging.
Temperatures above 40°C are scorching parts of Central Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that extreme heat is becoming an increasing public health threat across the region.
This is the third of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment