Israel’s military announced on Monday that they have retrieved the remains of the final hostage held in Gaza, meeting a crucial requirement of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the conflict in the Palestinian region. The body of police officer Ran Gvili, who had been held captive in Gaza for over 840 days, has been identified and will be repatriated for burial, according to the military’s statement.
This recovery of Gvili’s remains is expected to facilitate the potential reopening of the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the primary gateway for the enclave to the outside world, as pledged by Israel. The Palestinian technocratic committee, supported by the U.S. for overseeing Gaza, has announced plans to open the border crossing this week, although no specific timeline has been provided.
Gvili’s remains had been held in Gaza since he was killed during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, which triggered a two-year Israeli offensive. Israeli news channels aired footage showing soldiers gathered arm in arm at the location in Gaza where the body was found, singing a Hebrew song symbolizing Jewish hope and faith.
In another scene from Gaza, a casket draped in the Israeli flag was seen, surrounded by soldiers. Gvili’s mother, Talik, referred to her son as a hero in social media posts. Gvili was off-duty during the attack day, recuperating from an injury, when he lost his life fighting the militants.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the discovery of Gvili’s remains as a significant achievement for the nation, describing Gvili as a heroic figure for Israel who displayed exceptional courage.
Gvili was one of the 251 hostages taken to Gaza by militants during the 2023 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, according to Israeli records. The subsequent Israeli offensive has led to the deaths of over 71,400 Palestinians, with more than 480 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since October 10, 2025, as per Palestinian data.
The ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in October 2025 stipulated the release of all remaining hostages, whether alive or deceased, as a fundamental component 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 event of the Hamas attack, deemed the bloodiest killing of Jews since the Holocaust.
Even before the recovery of Gvili’s body, the U.S.-led plan to end the conflict had already moved into its subsequent phase, focusing on the reconstruction of Gaza and the demilitarization of the region. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem affirmed the group’s commitment to the plan, emphasizing their dedication to supporting the national administration in Gaza led by the committee of technocrats.
Hamas acknowledged that the information they provided assisted in locating Gvili’s body. The opening of Gaza’s border with Egypt, a part of Trump’s peace plan, was contingent on the return of the final hostage’s remains, as demanded by Israeli authorities.
Reports indicated that Israel intended to regulate the flow of Palestinians entering Gaza through the border crossing, ensuring that fewer entered than departed, and subjecting all Palestinians using the crossing to screening at an adjacent Israeli military checkpoint.