After nearly two and a half years, Israel has finally recovered the remains of its last hostage held in Gaza, bringing closure to a prolonged ordeal and allowing the next stage of a ceasefire agreement to begin.
The Israeli military said it located Master Sgt Ran Gvili’s body in a cemetery near Gaza City following updated intelligence that guided their operation.
Hamas acknowledged providing mediators with information that helped pinpoint the site. The discovery completes Israel’s long-standing effort to account for all hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the retrieval a momentous accomplishment, highlighting the fulfillment of a promise to bring all captives home.
“We promised - and I promised - to bring everyone back. We brought them all back, down to the very last captive,” he said.
The Israeli government indicated that Gaza’s main border crossing with Egypt would reopen once the operation was finalized. Netanyahu reflected on past encounters with hostage families, saying:
“I looked them in the eyes and said: 'We will bring Rani home.' I promised you, citizens of Israel: We will bring everyone home.”
The military detailed that the search began on Sunday after intelligence was refined. Officials said the cemetery was near the Yellow Line, the border marking areas still under Israeli control according to the ceasefire.
Hamas confirmed its role in aiding the operation. Spokesman Hazem Qassem said the recovery “confirms Hamas's commitment to all the requirements of the ceasefire agreement.”
Family reactions were emotional. Gvili’s father, Itzik Gvili, spoke at his son’s coffin, saying: “You had the option to stay home, but you said to me: 'Father, I'm not going to leave my friends to fight alone.' "You came out, and you need to see the honour you have here, all the people who brought you. All the police are here with you, the entire army is here with you, the entire nation is here with you. I'm proud of you, my son."
Earlier, Gvili’s sister Shira told the Hostages and Missing Families Forum: “I feel an insane sense of relief. I feel relieved. I am sad. I'm very sad that it ended this way, but it had to end at some point. I am so happy he's coming back home.”
Gvili’s return ends Israel’s hostage crisis after 843 days and clears the way for the next phase of the ceasefire plan. Israel had paused further steps until the last missing hostage was found.
The next phase includes the rebuilding of Gaza, disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, deployment of an International Stabilization Force, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The Israel Defense Forces said: “According to the information and intelligence available to us, Sgt Maj (res) Ran Gvili... a Yamam commando fighter, aged 24 at the time of his death, fell in battle on the morning of October 7, 2023, and his body was abducted to the Gaza Strip.
"The IDF shares in the family's grief. The IDF will continue to accompany the families and the returned hostages and to act to strengthen the security of Israel's citizens.
"With this, all of the hostages from the Gaza Strip area have been returned.”
Trump reacted on Truth Social, writing: “Just recovered the last Hostage body in GAZA. Thus, got back ALL 20 of the living Hostages, and ALL of the Dead! AMAZING JOB!” He said the recovery was thought impossible by many and praised his team.
Gvili was among 251 people abducted during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed roughly 1,200 people. Over the following two years, 20 hostages were returned alive, and 27 dead bodies were recovered, leaving only Gvili missing until now.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza, launched after the attacks, has killed over 71,000 Palestinians according to the Hamas health ministry.
This marks the first time since 2014 that Israel holds no hostages in Gaza. While the recovery is a relief for families and the nation, critics note the process has been long and costly for both sides.
