Israel’s military announced on Monday that the remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered, meeting a crucial requirement of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the conflict in the region. The recovered remains belong to police officer Ran Gvili, who had been held captive in Gaza for over 840 days. These remains will now be returned for burial, according to the military’s statement.
This recovery could lead to a partial reopening of the Rafah Crossing, the primary gateway for Gaza to connect with Egypt. This aligns with commitments made by Israel. The Palestinian technocrats, supported by the U.S. for governing Gaza, have indicated that the border crossing will reopen this week, although no specific date has been confirmed yet.
Gvili’s remains had been held in Gaza since his death during a Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, which triggered a two-year Israeli military operation. Images broadcast on Israeli news channels showed soldiers gathered at the site where the body was found, singing a Hebrew song of hope and faith.
The discovery of Gvili’s remains has been hailed as a significant achievement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described Gvili as a national hero. Gvili was among the 251 hostages taken to Gaza by militants during the 2023 attack, resulting in the loss of 1,200 lives as per Israeli records. The ceasefire deal signed in October 2025 between Israel and Hamas required the handover of all remaining hostages, living or deceased.
The return of Gvili’s body symbolizes a moment of healing for Israel post the traumatic event, considered the bloodiest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. As Gvili’s body has been recovered, the next phase of the U.S.-led plan, focusing on Gaza’s reconstruction and demilitarization, is set to proceed.
Hamas has affirmed its commitment to the plan following the discovery of Gvili’s remains, emphasizing cooperation with the national Gaza administration. The reopening of Gaza’s border with Egypt, a part of Trump’s peace plan, had been delayed until the return of the final hostage’s body as demanded by Israel.
Israel’s proposal to regulate the flow of Palestinians through the border crossing and conduct screenings at an Israeli military checkpoint nearby has been reported. This move aims to ensure security measures are in place during the border operations.