JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has successfully retrieved the remains of the final hostage held in Gaza, marking the end of a distressing chapter for the nation. This paves the way for a more complex stage in its ceasefire with Hamas.
The upcoming steps may involve reopening Gaza’s border with Egypt, allowing Palestinian movement and increased aid access. The ceasefire’s subsequent phase will include deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops, and Gaza’s reconstruction.
Police officer Ran Gvili’s remains were discovered in a northern Gaza cemetery.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the recovery as “an incredible achievement” for Israel and its forces. Gvili was killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which initiated the conflict and was one of the first taken into Gaza.
Dozens, including family, military officials, and comrades from Gvili’s police unit, gathered to receive his coffin at an army post near the Gaza-Israel border. Many Israelis lined the roads as the convoy transported the coffin to Tel Aviv, arriving Monday night.
“You should see the honor you’re receiving here,” Gvili’s father, Itzik, expressed, kissing the Israeli flag-draped coffin. “The entire police is here with you, the entire army is with you, the entire people. I’m proud of you.”
The retrieval of all hostages was a primary condition of the ceasefire’s initial phase. Hamas has stated it fulfilled these obligations.
Following Gvili’s recovery, Netanyahu’s office announced the Rafah crossing will soon open, seen by Palestinians as a vital connection to the outside world, which has been mostly closed since May 2024.
The next phase of the ceasefire will tackle complex issues like transitioning Gaza’s governance and disarming Hamas, who have controlled the region for nearly 20 years. “The next phase is disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip. The next phase is not reconstruction,” Netanyahu emphasized in parliament.
Palestinian Outlook on Hostage Remains Recovery
Palestinians in Gaza are hopeful that reopening the Rafah crossing will facilitate travel and medical evacuations. “We hope this will close off Israel’s pretexts and open the crossing,” said Abdel-Rahman Radwan, who has a mother needing cancer treatment outside Gaza.
Ahmed Ruqab, living in a tent with his family in Nuseirat refugee camp, urged mediators and the U.S. to pressure Israel for increased aid. “We need to turn this page and restart,” he remarked over the phone.
UNICEF’s deputy executive director, Ted Chaiban, highlighted the necessity of bringing in humanitarian and commercial supplies, as well as permanent shelter materials for infrastructure repair.
Gvili’s family previously urged the Israeli government and U.S. President Donald Trump to ensure his remains’ return. “Most thought of it as an impossible thing to do,” Trump commented on social media.
Gvili’s mother, Talik, expressed gratitude to the Israeli government, security forces, and Trump for enabling family closure.
Israel accused Hamas of delaying the search, while Hamas claimed it provided all available information, blaming Israel for obstruction.
Discovery of the Last Hostage’s Remains
Gvili’s remains were located along the “yellow line” dividing Gaza, according to a military official who spoke anonymously.
The October 2023 attack initiated the war, killing approximately 1,200 and taking 251 hostages. Gvili, known as “Rani,” died fighting Hamas militants.
U.S. officials acknowledged Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey’s roles in facilitating Gvili’s body release, noting Hamas’s cooperation. They anticipate Israel’s cooperation in advancing to the ceasefire’s second phase, expecting Hamas to disarm as per the agreement.
Prior to Gvili’s recovery, 20 hostages and 27 other remains were returned to Israel since the ceasefire, most recently in early December.
Israel has released about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire, many detained without charge during the two-year conflict. Additionally, over 300 Palestinian bodies have been returned to Gaza, where officials face challenges identifying them.
In a symbolic gesture, Israeli President Isaac Herzog removed a yellow pin worn to show solidarity with hostages and their families.
Casualties in Gaza Since the Ceasefire
Gaza residents remain skeptical about the ceasefire’s potential to enhance conditions, citing continued violence and hardships in acquiring essentials.
On Monday, Israeli forces reportedly killed two people in Gaza, as confirmed by hospitals. One individual was near the area where Gvili was being searched, according to Shifa Hospital.
Since 2023, Israel’s offensive has resulted in at least 71,660 Palestinian deaths, as per Gaza’s Health Ministry. Over 480 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire’s onset. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led administration, maintains detailed casualty records deemed reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.
Journalists Seek Access to Gaza
On Monday, the Foreign Press Association petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court for unrestricted journalist access to Gaza.
Representing numerous international news organizations, the FPA advocates for independent media access, restricted since Hamas’s 2023 attacks. Israel cited safety risks for journalists and soldiers as reasons for the ban.
FPA attorneys argued the restrictions are unwarranted, stating that journalists should be allowed entry, as aid workers have been. They assert that controlled visits under military supervision can’t replace independent access. Judges are expected to issue a ruling soon.
___ Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press reporters Josef Federman, Natalie Melzer and Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, Will Weissert in Washington, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.
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